The drama therapy core processes: A Delphi study establishing a North American perspective

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

“…These are the processes of embodying a role and expressing emotions of the drama activity. This is in line with previous literature and theoretical insights where these mechanisms of change are considered as the core processes of the drama therapy and creative arts therapies [ 34 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 114 , 115 , 122 , 123 , 124 ]. All nine mechanisms of change were frequently mentioned in the various studies.…”

“…Dramatic projection is considered as one of the core processes of drama therapy [ 46 , 114 ]. Dramatic projections are techniques used by drama therapists to translate clients’ feelings and inner experiences from real life into dramatic representations so that these feelings can be externalized and expressed [ 46 , 114 , 115 , 116 ]. In addition, reflective techniques are important in drama therapy.…”

Arts Therapies with Children and Adolescents

“…These are the processes of embodying a role and expressing emotions of the drama activity. This is in line with previous literature and theoretical insights where these mechanisms of change are considered as the core processes of the drama therapy and creative arts therapies [34,[46][47][48]114,115,[122][123][124]. All nine mechanisms of change were frequently mentioned in the various studies.…”

Effectiveness of drama-based therapies on mental health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies.

“…In drama therapy, Jones (1996Jones ( , 2007 conceptualized nine core change processes that are shared by all drama therapy approaches: dramatic projection, drama therapeutic empathy and distancing, role playing and personification, interactive audience and witnessing, dramatic embodiment, playing, life-drama connection, transformation, and therapeutic performance. Through a Delphi study, Frydman et al (2022) further refined this list into seven core processes including active witnessing, distancing, dramatic play, dramatic projection, embodiment, engagement in dramatic reality, and multidimensional relationship. Cassidy et al (2014Cassidy et al ( , 2017 described six meta-processes in drama therapy including establishing safety, offering control and choice, play, working alongside the client, working in the here-and-now, and being actively involved in making abstract experiences visible and physical.…”