YOU FEEL LIKE!

=You need help to work through some personal difficulties such as:
depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, loss and mourning, interpersonal and adjustment problems, eating disorders, abuse.

=You are voiceless…. You want to express and explore yourself through drama techniques (storytelling, role playing, improvisation, mask work, guided imagery). These techniques allow you to express your feelings and thoughts and to rehearse different behaviours without being threatened by the pressures of reality. They give you the opportunity to work on issues in an imaginary safe space.

=You are tired of ‘playing’ the roles that are imposed by others: You get caught up too much in one role (mother, victim, loser, and so on) and want to discover new ways of being.

=It is difficult to find the meaning of your life: Creating a story enables you to find meaning in loss and to put pieces of a shattered life back together. Developing a narrative allows you to weave your life changes into a new more cohesive story. Constructing and telling the story creates meaning, leading to deeper understanding, which is crucial to the healing process.

=It is almost impossible to see any positive aspect in your experiences and you need empowerment: The Creative-Expressive Model is effective in decreasing trauma and empowering you to find your own coping strategies. Focusing on healthy aspects builds confidence and enhances self-esteem. Drama therapy helps create a more positive sense of self.

Nilgun Turkcan, M.A., AATQ
Drama Therapist

Nilgun Turkcan is a drama therapist and member of the Art Therapy Association of Quebec (AATQ). She has a Master's degree from Concordia University in Creative Arts Therapies (Drama Therapy Option). She offers the above services to individuals and groups in English, French(group only), and Turkish and to clients of any age --adults, seniors, teens, children. For more information or to make an appointment, please call: (514) 918-8866 or aysenilgun@sympatico.ca, nilgunt6@hotmail.com

7071, rue St-Denis
Montréal, Québec H2S 2S5
Jean-Talon

WHAT IS DRAMA THERAPY?

DRAMA THERAPY AND TECHNIQUES

Drama Therapy can be briefly described as a form of therapy that uses such dramatic techniques as storytelling, role playing, improvisation, and mask work as a means of healing. These techniques enable people not only to express their feelings and thoughts but also to try out different behaviours without the threats and pressures of reality, giving them the chance to work on issues in an imaginary safe space.

Drama therapy provides an opportunity to rehearse one's life.

For example, someone who is angry at her boss could get fired if she expresses her feelings in a real life setting, but these same feelings can be expressed through role playing and storytelling in the context of drama therapy. Through the intervention of a drama therapist, the person can observe herself from outside, recognize her feelings, and have a better understanding of the sources of her anger. New insights are gained by exploring alternative perspectives, attitudes, and responses.

In our daily lives we all assume several roles:

mother or father, victim, survivor, leader, among others. Sometimes we get caught up too much in one role. Role playing permits people to extend their repertoire of roles, broadening their perspective as well as creating empathy towards others by taking on their roles. We can play the parts of those who threaten us, whom we fear, or at whom we are angry. Although this work is done in imaginary settings, it carries over into life, giving us the courage to explore new roles rather than always sticking to the same old ones. It provides the opportunity to discover new ways of being instead of repeating the roles that were imposed by others. We can begin to make choices about the kinds of roles we want to assume and start to make positive changes in our lives, gradually increasing our self-confidence and self-esteem.

In drama therapy, we create stories.

The tradition of storytelling is ageless and recognized in most cultures as a practice vital to the health of individuals, the community, and the environment. Stories help people make sense of their world and of their experiences, dilemmas, and hardships. When we tell our stories, we find a way of living with our pain, a way of transcending our sorrows and tragedies. Subsequent to a painful or life-changing traumatic event, many people have a strong desire to understand how such events fit into their lives. Creating a story enables them to find meaning in loss and to reassemble the pieces of a shattered life. Developing a narrative allows people to weave together their life changes into a new more cohesive story. Constructing and telling the story creates meaning, thereby leading to the deeper understanding that is crucial to the healing process. Stories of courage and bravery provide hope, reminding us that even in the face of evil, the human spirit prevails.

Improvisation is another important technique in drama therapy.

By improvising, we not only express our conscious feelings, thoughts, and expectations but also our unconscious ones. The spontaneity and creativity of improvisation enriches our behavioural repertoire. Being heard, listened to, and witnessed by other enhances the healing process, especially when combined with performance and the use of masks.

Overall, the use of creative-expressive techniques are effective in decreasing trauma and in helping people develop their own coping strategies, thus building confidence and enhancing self-esteem. Drama therapy facilitates a more positive sense of self as people start to see themselves from a healthier perspective.

Nilgun Turkcan M.A., AATQ
DRAMA THERAPIST