Art and drama therapy shares the belief that creative expression is beneficial to the human spirit, and can be applied specifically to achieve therapeutic goals such as positive behavioural disorder changes and Improved interpersonal and social skills. Clients will have different experiences using these types of creative arts therapy.
Although drama therapy is distinct from acting, it uses activities like storytelling, projective play, purposeful improvisation and performance to help you work through issues both verbally and physically. This type of therapy was given birth out of the idea that some painful life experiences can be too difficult to express through normal verbal dialogue.
The objective goal of drama therapy is to provide clients with a safe and secure experience that helps to encourage the full expression of their emotional voice through playful, dramatic activity.
Art therapy does not require artistic talent or experience, instead, it draws on the creative process of making (or responding to) art to express difficult thoughts, feelings or concepts in a non-verbal way. Research suggests that art therapies may help some clients with mental health problems.
Both modalities seek to provide you with a safe space to address the issues that are troubling you in a playful way, using metaphor and other non-linear forms of expression to play out situations, act out responses, and imagine futures.
Both drama therapy and art therapy can be practised with clients in individual or group settings.