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- Use your love of drama to help people suffering from physical and mental health conditions
- Can be both physically and emotionally demanding work
- Highly rewarding work where you'll help others in need
As a Dramatherapist you'll help clients use their imagination and creativity to increase their confidence and self-esteem. Your clients may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities, emotional or behavioural problems mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, addictions or an eating disorder. You'll use a range of methods in your work, like voice, movement, storytelling, mime, puppetry and masks. You'll encourage your clients to work as part of a group, form one-to-one relationships, express what they feel and think about the world around them, and act out situations in a safe and supportive environment.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Help clients use their imagination and creativity to increase their confidence and self-esteem
- Use a range of methods in your work, like voice, movement, storytelling, mime, puppetry and masks
- Encourage your clients to work as part of a group, form one-to-one relationships, express what they feel and think about the world around them, and act out situations in a safe and supportive environment
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
Your clients may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities, emotional or behavioural problems mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, addictions or an eating disorder.
You'll work closely with other professionals like psychologists, social workers, teachers and other therapy specialists.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with excellent communication skills, creativity, intuition and imagination, the ability to relate to people from all backgrounds, emotional strength, with the ability to cope with challenging situations, and report writing skills.
For many roles you'll need to complete a postgraduate qualification in dramatherapy, accredited by the British Association of Dramatherapists. To apply for this course, you'll need a first degree in a subject like drama, creative therapies or psychology. You may also be able to apply if you've got a degree in a related subject, like occupational therapy, nursing or social work.
You'll be expected to have practical drama experience and voluntary or paid experience in helping people to deal with issues like mental health. You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice. Do-it also has information on voluntary opportunities in your area. It also may help if you've got a background in teaching, acting, nursing or social work.
You may also be able to do an arts therapist degree apprenticeship. You'll usually need a qualification and experience in art, drama or music to apply.
You'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
You'll need to pass enhanced background checks for this role.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could become a senior or consultant dramatherapist and lead a team of therapists or manage a unit. You could also train other dramatherapists, or set up your own practice.