Date of Award

Spring 5-5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Expressive Therapies

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Jason Butler

Second Advisor

Laura Wood

Third Advisor

Dave Mowers

Abstract

This pilot project examined the intersection of drama therapy and filmmaking. Drawing on the Co-Active Therapeutic Theater model from drama therapy and digital storytelling and participatory video methods from social work research, this methodology designed and delivered a co-created filmmaking intervention at a residential treatment center for adult men with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder. Four participants made a seven-minute-long short fictional film based on their definition of active recovery and a theme of recovery they wished to share with an audience. It was screened at the treatment center for staff and their fellow residents. Data collection was conducted through a research journal and analysis of the final film. Data was analyzed using Joy, Braun, and Clark’s (2023) reflexive thematic analysis. Findings identified eight themes: flexible environment, discomfort with negativity/friction, co-creation, bittersweetness, facilitator choice points, positive emotions, life-drama connection, and aesthetics. Due to the small sample size of this research project, the results cannot be generalized to a larger population. However, the findings are aligned with research in digital storytelling and participatory video methods, although with a greater emphasis on the role of the facilitator. Future inquiry should explore ethical data handling, a larger group, and a less acute population.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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