Date of Award

Spring 5-16-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Dave Mowers

Abstract

This literature review examines the relationship between the needs and challenges that caregivers of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders experience and the formal supports available to this population. Drawing upon literature from the fields of mental health, occupational therapy, speech language-pathology, public health, intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities research, and the expressive therapies, this review explores the gap in care for this vulnerable population. Through the exploration of a foundational drama therapy theory, role theory, and other elements key to drama therapy work, this review highlights the potential for drama therapy interventions to provide support for caregivers in areas such as healthy identity development and relieving stress related to caregiver burden and isolation. Additionally, findings in this review demonstrate a need for research which centers the caregivers as opposed to most current research which centers the caregiving role.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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