Moving, Speaking and Imagining, from Passivity to Action: Dramatherapy Work for Adults with Psychiatric Disorders

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper explores the role that Dramatherapy and the arts therapies can play as an integral part of the care proposed for adults with psychiatric disorders. Drawing upon over ten years clinical experience in mental health settings, we firstly present our theoretical arts therapy model, grounded in aesthetics and highlighting the importance of the ‘artistic phenomenon’, influenced by research work from the Ecole d’art‐therapie de Tours, France. Secondly, this paper attempts to capture the specificity of drama practise: the collective ephemeral production, the time space rituals, the use of play and imagination and the role of the body, acting and catharsis.
Next, we bring these theoretical frameworks to a clinical adult psychiatric setting and present group dramatherapy work in a Daycare Unit for adults with stabilised forms of psychosis. The dramatherapy workshops use a specific time‐space structure, open and closed improvisations, mime, Laban movement work and physical theatre techniques. We examine how these sessions and two other arts therapy projects have contributed to helping clients to raise selfesteem and reduce isolation and apathy.