Drama Therapist

Drama Therapy uses role play, voice work, movement, and storytelling to help clients explore and solve personal and social problems.

You will use the healing aspects of drama and theatre to help people explore and reflect on their feelings. You will offer people the opportunity to change by experimenting with different ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. People will learn more about their own behaviour and reactions to other people, which will help them understand social situations and deal with them as necessary.

Drama Therapist is also known as Creative Therapist.

Role Characteristics

Plan and deliver group and one on one Drama Therapy sessions
Encourage and support people in creative drama and theatre work using techniques such as improvisation, storytelling, play, role play, and script work
Encourage self-awareness, exploration and reflection on feelings and relationships
Initiate exploration of personal issues
Use appropriate equipment, materials and therapeutic props, such as puppets and masks
Work with other health and care professionals

Skills

Active listening
Advice giving
Creative thinking
Empathy
Observation
Communication

Day in the life

Watch this video to find out more about Drama Therpay.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

BTEC

A-Levels

Undergraduate degree

Degree apprenticeship

Postgraduate degree

How to become

There are many routes into becoming a Drama Therapist; these include university, volunteering and work experience.

You will normally need 5 GCSEs including English, maths and sciences, or equivalent and either A-Levels, BTEC or T-Levels depending on your preference in learning. You will normally need an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in Drama. Volunteering and work experience is valued by employers.

It is important to check your preferred course provider's entry requirements for guidance.

To practice as a Drama Therapist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

With experience, you could become a Senior or Consultant Drama Therapist, managing the work of a team of therapists.

You could become the head of an Arts Therapy department, coordinating the work of therapists from other disciplines such as music or art therapy. You might also train other Drama Therapists.