Date of Award
Spring 5-18-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MCM - MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Department
Expressive Therapies
Advisor
Laura Wood, PhD, RDT/BCT, LMHC
Abstract
Asian international students in the United States face a multitude of challenges such as language barriers, differences in cultural norms and behaviors, and identity confusion while navigating a foreign landscape. Developmental Transformations (DvT), a form of drama therapy, may apply to these challenges by enabling participants to explore different identities and express themselves creatively beyond the language barrier. This community engagement project was designed for Asian international students to be seen and heard by utilizing DvT. Within an in-person workshop, five participants played with their shared stories, and explored international and cultural roles in group DvT. Key takeaways from the workshop on the needs of Asian international students highlight the importance of validation, providing spaces to process culture shock, and fostering connections with peers from similar backgrounds. Implications for future directions include more research and practice regarding the ways to modify theories of drama therapy for those who are from collectivistic cultures.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Okamoto, Hazuki, "Playing With International Students From Asia: An Exploration of Cultural Commonalities and Differences in Developmental Transformations (DvT)" (2024). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 870.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/870
Included in
Art Therapy Commons, Asian Studies Commons, Ethnic Studies Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, Migration Studies Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Other Theatre and Performance Studies Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons
Rights
The author owns the copyright to this work.
