Dramatherapist
Dramatherapy is a creative arts therapy, which uses the performance arts to promote psychological, emotional and social change. Dramatherapists offer a safe environment for an individual or group to explore, address and deal with personal and social difficulties e.g. grief, anxiety, and personal growth. Dramatherapists use a variety of interventions with clients, including stories, puppetry, improvisation, drama and movement to allow clients to explore their past experiences and express themselves in a way that might be easier than directly talking about it.
Clients may be of any age and may include people with psychological and/or mental health issues, physical or mental disabilities or behavioural difficulties. Other clients may be people on probation or in secure settings, or people overcoming an addiction.
Dramatherapists work with a range of other professionals such as psychologists, social workers and nurses, teachers and other therapist staff.
Dramatherapists contribute to therapeutic programmes in clinical, educational and community settings.
Typical activities include:
In order to practise, dramatherapists must have completed a postgraduate qualification that is approved by the British Association of Dramatherapists and be registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC) .
Postgraduate courses in dramatherapy leading to eligibility for registration are provided by Roehampton University, the University of Derby, the Iron Mill Institute and Anglia Ruskin University. Details of courses are available from the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth) website.
Entry requirements for one of the relevant postgraduate courses usually include a degree in drama or a psychological health subject. The universities also usually require the candidate to have significant relevant experience, paid or voluntary with people with specific needs, as well as have experience in practical drama work.
Whilst each course has its own focus, areas covered include: practical and experiential work; psychological theories; group and individual dramatherapy; knowledge of related arts therapies; personal therapy/development; and clinical practice. Most courses provide opportunities for clinical placements in a range of settings. It is important to check with individual course providers about specific placement provision and support, as well as the focus of the course and the approach taken to dramatherapy.
All students are expected to undergo and fund personal therapy during training.
Some universities, such as Derby, Exeter and Roehampton, offer a one-year top-up Masters course for those candidates who have a PG Dip in Dramatherapy.
It may be possible to get onto a course without a relevant degree if you have a relevant professional qualification in an area such as teaching, nursing, psychology or social work.
Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
The majority of students are in their late 20s or 30s because of the level of experience required before starting training.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Once you are a fully qualified dramatherapist and you are registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC) , you can apply for full membership with the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth) . Student membership is available while you are completing your training.
In addition to the membership, supervision throughout your career is recommended. Supervision provides ongoing support and the opportunity to reflect on the challenges and rewards of your work. A supervisor may be another practising dramatherapist or a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or other arts therapist with relevant psychotherapeutic skills and experience of dramatherapy. The BADth and the Sesame Institute can provide information on supervisors.
The opportunity for additional training and continuing professional development (CPD) may depend on individual employers. If you are working on a freelance basis or are employed by a small organisation, you may have to fund your own additional training. Large organisations such as the National Health Service are generally able to offer a wider range of funded training options relevant to individual posts, see NHS Careers for further information. Evidence of CPD is needed to renew registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC).
Relevant training organisations provide conferences, short courses, workshops and summer schools to enable CPD for qualified dramatherapists. Contact the BADth for further details.
There is no formal promotion pattern within dramatherapy and prospects depend upon the employing institution. After initial professional experience, openings may arise to be a training supervisor or to undertake consultancy work.
Dramatherapists work in many different contexts and sectors, from the National Health Service (see NHS Careers ) to education, youth work, charities, the prison service (where the work is known as forensic dramatherapy and is highly specialised) and private consultancy. The nature of dramatherapy is diverse and there are numerous techniques, methods and approaches which may be utilised by the practitioner. Training courses each have their own particular emphasis.
After gaining qualifications and experience, some dramatherapists undertake training in another field, such as teaching, nursing or occupational therapy. It is also possible to go on to manage a team of dramatherapists or to work on a freelance basis.
The British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth) encourages practitioners to carry out research and this is an essential aspect of employment in the NHS.
Typical employers include:
Many dramatherapists work freelance or are self-employed. Their clients may come from a range of backgrounds, seeking different types of therapeutic support for specific or general issues.
Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
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