by Jeanni Ritchie
The North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) is a leading pioneer in using drama therapy to help people, families, and communities who are dealing with: loss, social stigma, isolation, conflict, anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Drama therapy is a form of expressive arts therapy that uses storytelling, imagination, and play to promote healing. It can be a cathartic way to work through painful emotions and past traumas. This embodied practice is active and experiential. The approach can provide the context for participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or achieve catharsis in a safe environment through guided techniques.
I’ve been known to indulge in a little independent non-therapeutic drama therapy, pumping hand weights in my garage to Katy Perry- choreographed Roar moves post-divorce and singing Mean Girls’ World Burn to the bathroom mirror as I watched several fair-weather friends jump ship in the aftermath. While I’d wanted to throw dynamite and obliterate every area of my life at the time, channeling my ire into character art kept it relatively contained throughout the turmoil.
While there are licensed drama therapists trained to handle such emotions in a much healthier way, it did serve its purpose.
As I learned more about drama therapy, I discovered NADTA and its efforts to make a mark in the health industry. In fact, they announced their 2025 national conference location- New Orleans- shortly after I returned from my travel assignment and reached out to collaborate. I look forward to returning to NOLA to cover the conference later this year.
To find out more on drama therapy and its work with autism, addiction, eating disorders, oncology, ptsd, social justice, and more, visit nadta.org.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
