Date of Award
Spring 5-5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Expressive Therapies
Major
Clinical Mental Health Counselling
First Advisor
Chyela Rowe, Ph.D., RDT/BCT
Abstract
This literature review examined the role of costume as a therapeutic tool in drama therapy; an area that, despite its potential, remains underexplored. The studies located focused on how costume may facilitate identity exploration and emotional expression. The paper synthesized existing literature on drama therapy's core processes, particularly embodiment and dramatic projection, while expanding the definition of costume to include masks and puppets. The literature illuminated the psychological and cultural significance of dress and identity, with studies that investigated how costume influenced both self-perception and external perception. The literature addressed the evolution of costume use in virtual therapy settings, illustrating its transformative, expressive, and relational capacities. By positioning costume as an essential component of drama therapy, this review aimed to stimulate further research and understanding of its impact on therapeutic practice. Recommendations emphasized the necessity for developing operationalized theories for the use of costume in the therapeutic process.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Seamon, Bretny M., "More Than Dress-Up: A Literature Review of The Function of Costume in Drama Therapy" (2025). Expressive Therapies Theses. 50.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_therapies_theses/50
