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Drama Therapy and the Climate Crisis
  • ISSN: 2054-7668
  • E-ISSN: 2054-7676

Abstract

Research shows that activists as a population may be at high risk for developing symptoms of trauma, isolation, alienation and burnout due to a host of internal and external factors. This instrumental case study, originally undertaken in the context of a graduate research project, describes a ten-week intervention with a group of female social and environmental activists exploring the theme of self-care. The interventions were based on the integration of two frameworks: drama therapy methods and processes – including Jones’s core processes, Salas’s Playback Theatre, Emunah’s Five Phase Model of drama therapy and Silverman’s Story Within model – and an ecopsychological group process developed by Joanna Macy and her colleagues, known as the Work that Reconnects. Interventions are described and analysed in terms of the integration of methods and the development of self-care as a guiding theme. The study draws larger implications for activist self-care practice, including the role of honouring painful feelings as integral to self-care, and the potential for drama therapy to foster collective practices of self-care within activist movements. The study suggests that drama therapists may have a unique role to play in supporting activists to find tools to engage sustainably in their work. By integrating the Work that Reconnects and drama therapy methods, this research proposes an ecodramatherapy: a drama therapy practice that is rooted in the anticolonial perception of our fundamental relatedness with, and responsibility to, all peoples and forms of life. It is our hope that the lessons from this research, done over a decade ago now, may inspire therapists, facilitators and activists alike to create circles of safety and support for those engaging in the demanding work of fighting for climate justice for present and future generations.

Resumen

La investigación muestra que los activistas, como población, pueden estar en alto riesgo de desarrollar síntomas de trauma, aislamiento, alienación y agotamiento debido a una serie de factores internos y externos. Este estudio de caso instrumental describe una intervención de diez semanas con un grupo de activistas femeninas explorando el tema del autocuidado. Las intervenciones se basaron en la integración de dos marcos: los métodos y procesos de la dramaterapia y una forma de trabajo grupal socioecológico conocida como el . Las intervenciones se describen y analizan en términos de la integración de los métodos y el desarrollo del autocuidado como tema guía. El estudio señala implicaciones más amplias para la práctica del autocuidado de los activistas, incluyendo el papel de honrar los sentimientos dolorosos como parte integral del autocuidado, y el potencial de utilizar la dramaterapia para fomentar prácticas colectivas de autocuidado dentro de los movimientos activistas. El estudio sugiere que los dramaterapeutas pueden tener un papel especial en apoyar a los activistas para encontrar herramientas que les permitan participar de manera sostenible en su trabajo. Al integrar el y los métodos de dramaterapia, esta investigación propone una dramaterapia ecológica: una práctica de dramaterapia que está enraizada en la percepción de nuestra relación fundamental con, y responsabilidad hacia, todos los pueblos y formas de vida.

Résumé

La recherche montre que les activistes, en tant que population, peuvent présenter un risque élevé de développer des symptômes de traumatisme, d’isolement, d’aliénation et d’épuisement professionnel en raison d’une série de facteurs internes et externes. Cette étude instrumentale de cas décrit une intervention de dix semaines auprès d’un groupe d’activistes féminin explorant le thème de l’autosoin. Les interventions étaient basées sur l’intégration de deux cadres: les méthodes et processus de la dramathérapie et une forme de travail de groupe socio-écologique connue sous le nom de ‘Work that Reconnects’ (le Travail qui relie). Les interventions sont décrites et analysées en termes d’intégration des méthodes et de développement de l’autosoin en tant que thème directeur. L’étude tire des implications plus larges pour les pratiques d’autosoin des activistes, y compris le rôle d’honorer les sentiments douloureux comme partie intégrante de l’autosoin, et le potentiel de l’utilisation de la dramathérapie pour favoriser les pratiques collectives d’autosoins au sein des mouvements d’activistes. L’étude suggère que les dramathérapeutes peuvent avoir un rôle particulier à jouer en aidant les activistes à trouver des outils pour s’engager durablement dans leur travail. En intégrant les méthodes de Work that Reconnects et de dramathérapie, cette recherche propose une dramathérapie écologique: une pratique de dramathérapie ancrée dans la perception de notre relation fondamentale et de notre responsabilité à l’égard de tous les peuples et de toutes les formes de vie.

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2025-05-07
2026-02-17
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Widening circles of care: Exploring self-care with activists using ecodramatherapy
Drama Therapy Review 11, 11 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1386/dtr_00161_1
/content/journals/10.1386/dtr_00161_1
/content/journals/10.1386/dtr_00161_1
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  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): acción colectiva; action collective; bien-être communautaire; bienestar comunitario; climate feelings; climate psychology; collective action; community well-being; drama therapy; dramaterapia; dramathérapie; ecodramaterapia; ecodramatherapy; ecological justice; ecopsicología; ecopsychology; justice écologique; justicia ecológica; psicología climática; psychologie climatique; sentiments climatiques; sentimientos climáticos; écodramathérapie; écopsychologie

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