I recently attended the National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT) annual conference, which was held in White Plains, New York–just a hop, skip, and a jump (or a 30-minute ride on the Metro North railroad) from New York City. This year’s theme was “Finding Home: Pathways to Belonging.”
It is always amazing to witness the incredible ways in which drama therapy and creative arts are used in the service of healing for individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities. Dr. Dan Wiener taught about “Rehearsals for Growth“–a method he developed which integrates improvisational theater activities with more traditional psychotherapy approaches for the purpose of helping people improve their interpersonal relationship skills. Therapist Wendyne Limber–founder of the Imagination Process–showed her documentary film about a client who, after much drama therapy work, was able to return to her hometown to the scenes of her horrific sexual abuse to reclaim the lost pieces of her soul. There were workshops on how brain research demonstrates the method by which drama therapy is such a powerful healer. Keynote speaker Dr. Jan Cohen-Cruz talked about “Eco-theatrics” and how drama is used not only therapeutically but for activist purposes as well, such as helping prison inmates and victims of hurricane Katrina. Judy Swallow introduced Playback Theater, a wonderful method in which people’s personal stories are played back to them by actors. Social worker Erica Craig presented a course on creating personal mandalas (circle art) and embodying them (i.e., acting them out) to gain spiritual insight and wisdom. And the list goes on and on…
Of course, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see a Broadway show while I was there. I ended up at “Hair” –that 1960’s hippie, sex and drug-fest, anti-Vietnam-War, tribal-love rock musical. Oh, yes…theater has the power to move people. And drama therapy has the power to heal–to help you find your home, your pathway to belonging. Come join us for the 2010 conference next fall in Chicago!
