Drama Therapy

It is in playing and only in playing that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality.

— Donald Winnicott

Drama therapy uses storytelling, role play, movement and improvisation to explore our inner worlds, deepen our relationships and discover new ways of being.

Rooted in ancient traditions of ritual, song, dance and theatre, it draws on the power of embodied expression to bring people together, foster connection and support personal growth.  

Giving Expression to Experiences

Through drama therapy, we can encounter different perspectives, give expression to experiences that may be difficult to put into words, and explore new possibilities for ourselves and our relationships. Usually practised in groups, drama therapy offers a space for creativity, empathy and connection. By stepping into different roles, sharing stories and bringing experiences to life through enactment, we can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. Enactment also invites us to experiment with new ways of responding to familiar situations, discovering possibilities that may not have been available to us before.

Two women on stage seated in the midst of a re-enactment

Come with me into the woods where spring is advancing, as it does, no matter what, not being singular or particular, but one of the forever gifts, and certainly visible. 

— Mary Oliver

My Approach to Drama Therapy

In my approach to drama therapy, I integrate classical psychodrama, Internal Family Systems, Roy Hart Voice Work, the Therapeutic Spiral Model, Playback Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed, along with dance, movement, singing, and mindfulness.  

Since 2009 I have been leading drama therapy groups and workshops internationally, working closely with communities impacted by poverty, war and violence.  I have also established and taught in numerous training programs that use therapeutic drama and applied theatre for community building and trauma healing.  

Group of students expressively dancing outside beneath the trees

My Background

I hold a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).  I also hold a PhD from the University of New England, Australia. My doctoral thesis explored the use of therapeutic and applied theatre for collective trauma response and cultural activism in Palestine. I have studied with Zerka Moreno, Renée Emunah, Kate Hudgins, Mario Cossa, Armand Volkas and other practitioners.

I am a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) and a Board-Certified Trainer (BCT) with the North American Drama Therapy Association.  I am also an Accredited Playback Theatre Trainer through the Centre for Playback Theatre, New York.

Getting in Touch

If my approach resonates with you, you are welcome to get in touch to ask questions and explore whether working together might be a good fit.

Contact Details