During the 1920s, a Romanian psychologist named Jacob Moreno took notice of the fact that role play and experimental theater freed people to reveal their thoughts and feelings. As a result, he began to incorporate drama into psychotherapy, thereby creating “drama therapy.” Today, “psychodrama,” as it is also known, is used to help individuals resolve specific issues by helping them discover how the past affects the present. As a result, people may be able to shed old habits, learn new skills, or accept a difficult past. By engaging in role playing and improvisations, participants in psychodrama may come to understand negative behaviors and practice new ways of reacting and being. As Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage.”
If you find yourself caught up in old habits that continue to trip you up, role playing and exploring alternative ways of doing things will most definitely bring about change. You or someone you know may benefit from working with one of our experienced therapists. We are here to help and can also address issues resulting from grief, depression, or stress. Please call one of our offices today or take our on-line self- assessment on this website.
P.S. Young children may explore their world by using puppets to express their thoughts and feelings.