Date of Award

Spring 5-17-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Chyela Rowe

Abstract

The live radio play format is uniquely positioned to offer social benefits for older adults when explored through a performance-based drama therapeutic lens. Though firsthand familiarity with old-time radio is not a prerequisite for meaningful participation in a group styled after this bygone era of storytelling, the format naturally supports accessibility needs common among the older adult population. The minimal blocking requirements, script-in-hand approach, and adaptable format make it especially accommodating to a wide range of skill levels and areas of interest. Research into therapeutic interventions for older adults tends to rely on reminiscence and life review approaches with an overrepresented segment of studies directed toward individuals with cognitive impairments. This capstone thesis explored the facilitation of a five-month performance-based drama therapeutic group for older adults within a community center setting in greater Boston. The performance-based approach employed for this project invited older adults aged 65+ to embody role, attune somatically using live sound effects, reminisce collaboratively by incorporating vintage commercial jingles, and culminated in a live radio play performance. This thesis offers insight into the drama therapeutic use of a live radio play format with cognitively healthy older adults in a community center setting.

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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