Drama Therapy in School - An Application of Healing Potential of Theatre in the Field of Education
2002 Volume 40 Pages 31-46
Details
2002 Volume 40 Pages 31-46
The present paper reports the author's experiences as a drama therapist in a primary school in Setagaya, Tokyo, where two sessions of drama therapy were given for the second and fourth grade pupils.
In the session children were encouraged to freely show their frustration, anxiety or fear hidden in their ordinary school activities. In the session I called “tearing the textbook”, for example, a 10-year-old girl who seemingly has no personal problems suddenly begins to tear her textbook in a play, and the author instantly decided to play the role of a mirror to her actions. How could the reaction of the therapist toward a client be justified? In the present paper, the author tries to examine and explain each case by using concepts of mirroring, conflicting, and distancing.
Through these experiences, the author is convinced that drama therapy will play a significant role in education in the future.
