For children and young people, a dramatherapy session provides a space in which to explore feelings and experiences. With less emphasis on talking and more focus on play, children are given the opportunity to process their emotions verbally or non-verbally in a safe, contained, creative space.

Common aims of dramatherapy with children and young people:

Build self-confidence and self-esteem
Build trusting relationships
Process trauma
To work towards increased emotional literacy, social skills and co-operation
Develop communication skills, verbal and non-verbal
Express and explore emotions
Develop creative skills and a creative vocabulary
Work with the imagination
Work safely within clear boundaries

Dramatherapy sessions can offer children and young people a different way of relating beyond their home and school environments. Dramatherapists use a range of drama, art, music, movement and play techniques as well as verbal interaction to explore difficult emotions or experiences that maybe affecting other areas of a child or young persons life. Sessions offer space to develop skills that can increase emotional expression, self-awareness and awareness of others as well as a greater self-confidence and increased self-esteem. This can lead to greater focus and attention, an increased ability to listen and interact with others as well as positive changes in behaviour.

I have spent nearly 20 years working in mainstream and special educational settings as a dramatherapist and in other educational roles. I have worked extensively with children and young people with a wide range of needs and have a particular enthusiasm for offering clients with communication difficulties creative ways to communicate, engage and build relationships through dramatherapy.

I believe that dramatherapy offers clients who are sometimes unable to put words to how they are feeling, the opportunity to explore their emotions through story, play and improvisation. The relationship built between therapist and client is at the core of the creative work and it is the combination of the creative arts and psychotherapy that can lead to long term wellbeing and an ability to meet life without restriction.