Drama Therapy Group Session

DRAMA THERAPY GROUP SESSIONS -SELF EXPLORATION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT What is Drama therapy? Drama therapy is a form of Creative Arts Therapy which uses creative, artistic and dramatic activities to enable people to express and work through problems. The element of pretence that is inherent in drama allows the client to be able to work on difficult concerns from a safe distance. Drama therapy uses the theories and concepts of psychology in its practice. It involves the creation of a trusting relationship and a safe space where the clients/participants can feel contained and is able to express himself/herself. Drama therapy uses various forms of creative expressions. Why Dramatherapy? • Creative expressions can help communicate emotions/feelings/thoughts that may be difficult to put in words. • It provides a structure in which the clients/participants are able to feel safe within its boundaries • Working with one’s imagination can help discover new things about oneself and gain a greater understanding of oneself. This drama therapy group sessions are designed to give space for the participants to get to know themselves in a deeper level. It gives them the space and tools to work with various challenges which they may be experiencing within themselves or the challenges they may be experiencing in their relationships and other life situations. OBJECTIVES • Self- exploration – becoming aware of one’s conscious and unconscious thoughts, beliefs and emotions • Giving a space to express emotions and thoughts through the creative methods of story making, movements and acting. • Personal development – acknowledging and working through challenges FOCUS OF THE SESSIONS: Session 1: Stories of Life - Creating fictional stories which may depict elements of one’s life Session 2: Unveiling the Mask – Acknowledging the feelings which are often hidden and which unconsciously affect one’s daily life. Discovering how to work with them. Session 3: Past, Present & Future - Exploring the Past, Being in the Present & Creating the Future Session 4. Creating your Sacred Space – Spaces influence our way of being. How would your safe, sacred space looks like? Session 5. Mandalas and Movements – Creating individual mandalas and allowing your body to move in resonance of it. Session 6. Mareno’s Social Atom - Exploring, confronting and shifting the challenging family or close relationship dynamics in one’s life. Session 7.: The Hero and the Saboteur – Exploring the hero and the saboteur within us. Session 8: Facing the Dragon – Looking at our biggest challenge in life and engaging with it. Session 9: Creating a New Story – What is the new life story which you choose to tell Session 10: Self- Revelatory Performance – Final performance of a part of your life which you would like to share with the group FACILITATOR: Vanitha Chandrasegaram MA Dramatherapy, UK; MSc Psychology,USA; Member of NADTA(North American Drama Therapy Association),USA. Member of SALM (félag sálmeðferðarfræðinga) Vanitha currently works at Therapy Cooperative in Reykjavik. Website link: https://www.therapycooperative.com/team/vanitha-chandrasegaram. She specializes in working with adults, teenagers and children who experience anxiety, depression and those going through life transitions. She has 20 years of experience practicing Dramatherapy and Psychotherapy working with individuals and groups who has experienced abuse, mental health and emotional challenges, relationship challenges and various other life challenges, in the in settings such as NGOs, Universities, Mental Hospital and Psychiatric Ward. She has also headed a home for over 70 underprivileged children from ages 4 to 16. She has presented in Conferences and facilitated workshops/training in UK, USA, India, Lebanon, Australia, Iceland and Malaysia. Her work has been published in professional journals in the UK, and in a couple of books about drama therapy and creative arts therapy. Her interests include Indian classical dance, acting, and playing the flute. Vanitha is also a certified yoga instructor and incorporates a holistic approach and brings in an eastern lens to her practice as a drama therapist and psychotherapist. This group is open to adults only. Minimum number of participants: 4; Maximum number of participants: 10. Duration: 1 1⁄2 hour per session Participants may choose to attend one or more sessions. Each session is complete on its own, even though participants are encouraged to attend each of the sessions. Total sessions offered : 10 Attire: comfortable (for movement activities). Fees: 5000kr per session Registration, at least 24 hours before each session, is required to reserve your spot.