More on Dramatherapy

Sesame dramatherapy is a form of psychological therapy that utilises the artform within the therapeutic relationship.  It is aimed at effecting psychological, emotional and social changes.

Session structure

The session structure is very simple, usually consisting of three parts:

• initially individuals arrive and 'check in' (this can be verbally or through the art form).  The check-in leads to a 'warm-up' designed at gently engaging the body (and/or imagination at a level people feel comfortable)
• the session then moves to the 'main event' (the main activity/artform of the session), which varies depending on the needs and sharings of the individual(s)
• finally there is a 'grounding', returning people from a place of imagination to their everyday selves.  This part of the session also involves an opportunity to share and reflect on experience

While this is the general outline, the Sesame dramatherapist is client-led, listening to the needs of the client within every session.

Theoretical grounding

Sesame dramatherapy is grounded in the theories of C G Jung's psychology of the unconscious, D W Winnicott's theories of human development, R Laban's art of movement, P Slade's work in children's play, and M Lindkvist's non-verbal language of 'Movement with Touch'. 

Dramatherapy explores the inner language of symbols and images.  These images are expressed through movement, sound, stories, and other forms of creativity, within a safe and playful environment.  This gives an individual an opportunity to engage with their emotional images, as well as explore different or opposite ways of being.