My clinical work also includes facilitating therapeutic programmes for young people, children and adults. I design bespoke programmes to suit the needs of the client group.
Children and Young People
- Theatre Pit – My work with children entails devising theatre-based programmes, underpinned by Dramatherapy and the PSHE curriculum. It supports literacy, self-development and creativity in primary schools. I work collaboratively with class teachers to ascertain areas for development with their groups. These range from
- building individual group skills
- cultivating emotional literacy
- fostering resilience
- developing creativity
- strengthening confidence and self-esteem as a method of building strong class communities
- reinforcing literacy skills and concepts through speaking and listening
The sessions are facilitated through play and drama exercises that are rooted in literacy texts. Play is the cornerstone of dramatic play. The ability to play is a natural part of childhood and crucial for our development and wellbeing. A child journeys through psychological and physical developmental stages as they grow into adulthood all the way to old age. Play is a meaning of learning in both childhood and adulthood.
Teacher feedback ‘The theatre pit has helped the children develop sensitivity in friendships and has helped them (boys and girls) work together more effectively. It has improved their social skills and confidence.’
Student feedback ‘The theatre pit helped me be more calm.’ ‘It made me more confident.’ ‘It made me understand the story more (literacy novel).’
Length of Programme: Weekly (2 hour) sessions over the course of half a term
2.Transition Through Theatre – These one-day workshops aim to assist students with the transition from primary to secondary school. Moving to secondary is an essential experience that cultivates growth, development and internal strength. These resilient factors can also be linked with loss, pain and separation. The workshop aims to support students in reflecting on this new developmental stage in their education, through the aesthetic distance of a classical text, appropriate for this age group. It is hoped that through the creative process they will identify their existing strengths and resilience as self-help tools to navigate them through their next adventure. It aims
- to help students process this transition
- to use a drama text to ‘rehearse’ children for the impending ending of primary school
- to guide students to creatively reflect on the potential challenges and benefits of this change
- to reflect on their achievements and resilience that they will take with them when they leave
- to identify coping strategies
- to develop problem solving skills
Student feedback ‘The role play helped me overcome my shyness about going to secondary school.’ Teacher feedback ‘The children were completely engaged and the diverse activities through Drama enabled the children to safely express their concerns about going to secondary school.’
Length of Programme: One-day workshop
