Text-based drama therapy and role: Development of a method for identity integration of adolescents exposed to trauma at a partial hospitalization program

Author

Daniel Coonan-HelmerFollow

Date of Award

5-20-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Dr. Jason Frydman

Abstract

Trauma interacts with adolescent’s growing understanding of their identity, yet their formative intra- and interpersonal skills may need extra guidance while enrolled in partial hospitalization programs (PHPs). This capstone thesis utilized role method and a selected scene to help adolescents exposed to trauma with identity integration while at a PHP. Through researching adolescent development, trauma, identity, and interactions between those three factors, an intervention was devised to facilitate identity integration using a selected scene from a play independently created of the therapeutic group. The results indicated that there was reflection and perspective growth after the intervention was utilized. The scene might have become a container for experiences that could not be expressed fully, supportive of traumatic response, and allowed for identity understanding and integration.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Coonan-Helmer, Daniel, "Text-based drama therapy and role: Development of a method for identity integration of adolescents exposed to trauma at a partial hospitalization program" (2023). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 687.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/687