Essay - Dramatherapy Sue Jennings Explores the Potential and the Practicality of...

Dramatherapy

***** Jennings explores the potential and the practicality of dramatherapy in her 1998 British publication, Introduction to Dramatherapy: Theatre and Heal*****g: Ariadne's Ball of Thread. Directed at a general audience but also ***** counseling professionals, Jenning's book covers a range of theories that support dramatherapy. She draws heavily from Jungian psychology and similar uses ***** symbolism as guiding forces in human consciousness. Jennings also addresses the sociological function of drama in *****, not*****g the way drama is commonly used versus the way it can be ***** more effectively. The author also illustrates ***** methodology ***** ***** ***** a healing tool. ********** approach is constructive and optim*****tic; she *****lieves ***** dramatherapy can be used to heal a wide variety of psychological problems including addiction but steers clear of making blanket assertions about serious psychiatric disorders. *****refore, Introduction to Dramatherapy lives up ***** its title as a clear, focused introductory text.

In the first chapter, Jennings introduces drama*****rapy within a global context of theater. She notes that drama has been extricated ***** most public school curricula, treated as a luxury rather than as being integral to everyday life. The author ***** distinguishes between celebrity culture and drama itself. However, she remains committed to the possibilities of all forms of drama ***** help people reclaim their identities and forge healthier relationships.

***** advocates dramatherapy especially ***** it pertains to roles and role playing. Her approach is optimistic, evident throughout the *****. In Chapter One, "Why Drama and Dramatherapy?" the author claims that theater art and drama can be healing regardless of whether they are applied in a systematic way. ***** fact, Jennings notes ***** *****therapy's potential is weakened when it is bogged down by too much psychotherapy, too ***** analysis. ***** should be as rooted in actual theater art as possible. Freed from the constrains of psychological **********, we become more open to effective creative expression and the potential to heal.

***** the very le*****t, claims Jennings, dramatherapy can broaden our minds ***** seeing the world in new ways. We can rethink the ********** we play in all social s*****uations, drawing from our memories of childhood. ***** origins of our dramatic experiences in ***** and even in utero affect the ways we relate to *****selves and o*****rs, and also affect the way ***** see the world. *****, Jennings emphatic*****y discourages dwelling on the past. Her ***** is firmly rooted in the present moment. Through dramatherapy, we see who ***** are, ***** we have become, ***** how to change. Dramaterapy enables the ********** to observe the results of our actions in dramatic sett*****gs and encourages us to seek ***** *****s of relating ***** ourselves and others.

Dramatherapy ***** not be merely a ********** ***** the psychologist or psychotherapist and in fact, such clinical applications should be minimized. Ideally, dramatherapy is a regul*****r process of interacting with a group of supp*****tive ***** in cre*****tive and symbolic ways. Drama is used to empo*****r individuals and *****fer people a chance to have more control over *****