Mentalization and drama therapy

Irwin, Eleanor C.; Hall, Holly Dwyer

doi:10.1016/j.aip.2021.101767

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…These outcomes are important effects that may promote self-esteem that buffers the negative effect of stressful life events in adolescence [ 54 ]. Drama therapy experts assume that drama therapy is used to promote understanding of one’s own and others’ behavior in terms of mental states (mentalization) [ 55 , 56 , 57 ], executive functions [ 58 , 59 ], working memory [ 60 , 61 ], and resilience [ 39 , 62 , 63 ]. Most studies on the effects of drama therapy in children and adolescents are based on expert opinions reflecting on their clinical work.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drama Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Psychosocial Problems: A Systemic Review on Effects, Means, Therapeutic Attitude, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change

et al. 2022

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Drama therapy is applied to children and adolescents with psychosocial problems. Drama therapy is an experimental form of treatment which methodologically uses drama and theatre processes to achieve psychological growth. Although in clinical practice, drama therapy has been applied successfully, little is known about how and why drama therapy contributes to a decrease in psychosocial problems. A systematic narrative review was performed to obtain more insight into this issue. Eight databases were systematically searched. Ten out of 3742 studies were included, of which there were four random controlled trails, three non-controlled trials, and three pre-and post-test design studies. We identified the results, drama therapeutic means, attitude, and mechanism of change. Positive effects were found on overall psychosocial problems, internalizing and externalizing problems, social functioning, coping and regulation processes, social identity, and cognitive development. An adaptive approach was mentioned as the therapeutic attitude. The means established contribute to a dramatic reality, which triggers the mechanisms of change. These are processes that arise during treatment and which facilitate therapeutic change. We found ten supposed mechanisms of change to be frequently used in all studies. No direct relations were found between the results, drama therapeutic attitude, means, and mechanisms of change.

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