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Diasporas in Dramatherapy
  • ISSN: 0263-0672
  • E-ISSN: 2157-1430
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Abstract

This article examines the relationship between intergenerational and collective racial trauma, and the links between post-traumatic stress disorder symptomology and racial trauma. Through autoethnography, I aim to shed light on the long-lasting effects of racial trauma, which still exist in the aftermath of such tragic colonial histories. Between the personal, social and cultural experience, through the lens of trauma, I propose insight into dramatherapeutic approach and techniques that may be harmful when not handled with cultural awareness. I propose a ‘Curious-and-Non-Defensive’ approach to dramatherapeutic work, as well as providing techniques: myth, role, play and embodiment in 1:1 and group settings to aid in personal and communal healing that may counteract the imprisoning determinants of racial trauma when working with Africans and African diasporic clients. This is one of the first articles exploring this subject matter in the United Kingdom.

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Intellect Ltd.
This article is Open Access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND), which allows users to copy, distribute and transmit the article as long as the author is attributed, the article is not used for commercial purposes, and the work is not modified or adapted in any way. To view a copy of the licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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2025-03-31
2025-05-19
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/content/journals/10.1386/dj_00020_1
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  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): autoethnography; Black mental health; creative therapies; culturally responsive practice; intersectional; trauma-informed

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