Date of Award
Spring 5-21-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA - Master of Arts
Department
Expressive Therapies
Advisor
Jason S. Frydman, PhD, RDT/BCT, NCSP
Abstract
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a widely used treatment approach for many different populations across an array of clinical settings. There is ample supporting evidence on its effectiveness, however there is also emerging literature on the barriers and challenges when engaging with this treatment modality. Drama therapy is an embodied treatment approach that uses theatre processes and techniques to achieve therapeutic goals. The aim of this thesis was to combine drama therapy and DBT into a proposed method to explore the impact of this infusion with clients on two inpatient units: a short-term unit and a trauma/dissociative unit. This method was implemented through created drama therapy-DBT groups, on both units, that address the DBT skills of mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. The results of this process showed promising outcomes for anxiety management, enhanced confidence and self-acceptance, finding personal connection to the material, and relaxed defenses. This exploration suggests that the incorporation of drama therapy into DBT has the potential to have a positive impact on the noted DBT treatment barriers and challenges, thus making DBT more efficient and effective.
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Recommended Citation
Moore, Sarah, "“Hey! Whoa.”: Enhancing Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Drama Therapy for Patients on a Short-Term Inpatient Unit and Trauma/Dissociative Inpatient Unit: Development of a Method" (2022). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 578.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/578
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