At Art of Awareness in Portland, Maine, we offer drama therapy as a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach to healing. Drama therapy integrates theater, role, play, and witnessing into the therapeutic process, creating pathways for resilience, creativity, and connection. By combining neuroscience, somatic practice, and the human need for story, drama therapy provides a powerful way for clients to process trauma and restore well-being.
According to the North American Drama Therapy Association, “Drama therapy is the intentional use of drama and theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals.” Rooted in psychology, somatic awareness, and creativity, drama therapy offers both children and adults new ways to process experience and reclaim resilience.
This blog draws on a training presented at Art of Awareness on August 6, 2025, by Amanda Roberts, LCPC-C, who highlighted the unique ways drama therapy supports trauma recovery, emotional regulation, and interpersonal connection.
Core Practices in Drama Therapy
Drama therapy uses creative methods to explore feelings and experiences in safe, symbolic ways. Clients may engage in dramatic play to expand creativity, practice role-playing to explore empathy and insight, or use storytelling and metaphor as tools for meaning-making. Embodiment exercises help reconnect clients with their bodies, while improvisation builds flexibility and confidence. Importantly, witnessing – being seen and acknowledged by others in a safe environment – creates opportunities for relational trust and empathy.
These practices go beyond “acting.” They invite participants to engage imagination, body, and voice as part of the therapeutic process.
Why Drama Therapy Supports Trauma Healing
For many survivors of trauma, direct discussion can feel overwhelming. Drama therapy offers symbolic distance, allowing clients to approach difficult material through characters, roles, or metaphor. By doing so, they can expand their capacity for self-expression while maintaining safety.
Drama therapy also aligns with polyvagal-informed approaches, helping regulate the nervous system. It broadens the window of tolerance, provides opportunities for safe expression when words are difficult, and repairs creativity that may have been suppressed by criticism or rigid environments. By working through both comfort and discomfort in a structured setting, drama therapy fosters resilience, flexibility, and healing.
Research-Backed Evidence for Drama Therapy
Meta-Analysis Highlights
A 2025 meta-analysis published in BMC Psychology evaluated creative arts therapies, including drama therapy, for treating PTSD symptoms. The findings were striking: drama therapy showed a very large effect (Standardized Mean Difference ≈ −11.16) compared to control conditions – though the study acknowledged high variability across interventions BioMed Central.
Controlled Studies and Systematic Reviews
A systematic review of drama therapy interventions revealed its prevalence in both educational (46%) and clinical (20%) settings. Outcomes reported included improvements in internalizing symptoms (like depression), anxiety reduction, enhanced social functioning, coping skills, and self-esteem development, particularly among adolescents in group settings PMC, ACAMH.
A Glimpse Into Practice
One example shared during Amanda Roberts’ training illustrates the power of drama therapy in practice. A client begins by making a sound and movement, which the therapist or group mirrors back. The sequence is repeated, creating a rhythm of expression and reflection.
Though simple, this practice builds safety, tracks emotional state, and deepens mind–body connection. From a neurological perspective, mirror neurons – the brain cells that activate both when we perform an action and when we observe another performing the same action, play a key role. This resonance helps clients feel seen and validated, strengthening relational attunement. In drama therapy, such exercises not only foster creativity and trust but also engage the brain’s natural capacity for empathy and co-regulation.
It demonstrates how drama therapy can use embodied methods to create connection and expression without relying solely on words.
The Role of Witnessing
Witnessing is central to drama therapy. Being seen and acknowledged becomes part of the healing process, helping clients build empathy, develop relational trust, and increase self-awareness. The presence of others, whether a therapist or a group, offers opportunities for clients to grow through both comfort and discomfort of being seen. In this way, witnessing is not about performance, but about being authentically present in relationship.
Growth Through Drama Therapy
Clients who participate in drama therapy often notice shifts in their ability to regulate emotions, access creativity, and navigate relationships. They may develop stronger embodied self-awareness, greater confidence in their voice and expression, and new problem-solving skills. By experimenting with roles and stories in a safe space, clients learn flexibility that can extend into daily life.
Integrating Drama Therapy With Other Approaches
Drama therapy is adaptable for both individual and group work. It integrates seamlessly with other trauma-informed modalities, including somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and polyvagal approaches. This makes it particularly valuable for clients who find verbal processing difficult or overwhelming, as it provides an accessible entry point into therapeutic exploration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is drama therapy used for?
Drama therapy supports trauma recovery, emotional regulation, creative expression, and interpersonal connection.
Is drama therapy evidence-based?
Yes. Research demonstrates that drama therapy is an effective form of creative arts therapy, grounded in psychology and neuroscience.
Who can benefit from drama therapy?
Children, adolescents, and adults seeking resilience, self-expression, or trauma healing may benefit.
Can drama therapy be combined with other therapies?
Absolutely. It complements somatic approaches, IFS, and polyvagal-informed therapy.
Closing Reflections
Drama therapy is more than a creative outlet – it is a bridge between theater, neuroscience, somatic practice, and the human need for story. It offers a profoundly human path to healing, allowing clients to reclaim creativity, expand resilience, and build relational trust.
At Art of Awareness, we have previously offered drama therapy groups, and we are excited to continue expanding these offerings in the future. Amanda Roberts, LCPC-C, is currently accepting new clients and integrates drama therapy approaches into her clinical work. In addition, we invite you to stay tuned for upcoming classes and workshops that will bring drama therapy to our wider community.
Interested in learning more about how drama therapy could support your healing journey in Portland, Maine? Visit our services page or begin today through our Get Started With Therapy form.