Dramatherapist
Job Description:Dramatherapists use group work, role play and movement to help people with their feelings and emotions.
Job Category:What you will do:
As a dramatherapist, you could:
- help clients use their creativity to increase their self confidence
- use voice, movement, storytelling, mime, puppets or masks
- support clients to express what they feel and act out situations in a safe environment
- encourage clients to work as a group and to form one to one relationships
- work closely with psychologists, social workers, teachers and other therapy specialists
Skills:
You’ll need:
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- knowledge of the fine arts
- knowledge of psychology
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
As well as:
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
- excellent verbal communication skills
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.
University
You’ll need to complete a postgraduate qualification in dramatherapy.
To apply for the postgraduate course, you’ll need a degree in a subject like drama, creative therapies or psychology.
You might also be able to apply if you’ve got a degree in a related subject, like occupational therapy, nursing or social work.
Work experience
You’ll be expected to have practical drama experience.
You’ll also be expected to have paid or voluntary experience in helping people to deal with issues like mental health.
You’ll usually need:
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You might be able to do an Arts Therapist Apprenticeship.
You’ll usually need a qualification and experience in art, drama or music to apply.
To do this apprenticeship, you’ll need:
- a degree in a relevant subject for a degree apprenticeship
Volunteering
You’ll find it useful to have paid or voluntary work experience.
You could work:
- in the community on drama projects
- in youth work
- with people with disabilities or mental health issues
You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice.
Career tips
It might help if you’ve got a background in teaching, acting, nursing or social work.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 37-39 hours of work. You could be required to work evenings/weekends.
You could work in a public or private hospital, at an adult care home, at a school or in a prison.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience you could:
- become a senior or consultant dramatherapist and lead a team or manage a unit
- train other dramatherapists
- set up your own practice