Drama Therapy Founders: Who Started the Blend of Theatre and Healing
The people who first shaped drama therapy pulled tools from the stage and the clinic to help people work through feelings, memories, and relationships.
Jacob L. Moreno is one name you’ll see again and again. He developed psychodrama in the early 1900s. Moreno used improvised scenes to explore emotions and social roles. That method is one of the main roots of modern drama therapy.
Other pioneers took different paths. Antonin Artaud and theatre innovators showed how anger, ritual, and raw expression could shift inner life. Later clinicians built therapy models that mixed drama, role work, and clinical practice.
In recent decades names like Robert J. Landy and Sue Jennings helped shape training, theory, and standards. Landy is known for bringing role theory into clinical practice. Jennings influenced play-based approaches used with children and groups.
Professional groups grew to support training and ethics. In North America and the UK organizations set credentialing, run training programs, and publish research. That made it easier for clinicians to train and for clients to find qualified therapists.
Why these founders matter
Knowing the founders helps you understand why drama therapy uses role-play, enactment, and group work. The early experiments tested what happens when people act out a moment instead of only talking about it. That shift opens different ways to process trauma, rehearse new behaviors, and connect to feelings safely.
How to use this history
Look for a therapist who can explain their training and which founders or models guide their work. Ask whether they use psychodrama, role work, storytelling, or creative play. A good therapist will say how sessions look, whether work is individual or group, and what goals they expect.
Who benefits? People with trauma, anxiety, depression, social skills challenges, and those wanting creative self-exploration often find drama therapy useful. Group formats help with social skills. One-on-one work can focus on a single issue.
If you want to learn more start with our articles "Creative Arts Therapies: Modern Healing for Mental Health and Wellness" and "Creative Arts Therapies: Unlocking Self-discovery Through Creativity." These explain how drama fits with art and music therapies and give practical exercises to try at home.
Quick takeaways: founders like Moreno showed acting out a scene changes how we feel; later clinicians built models to use that change safely; look for trained therapists who explain methods and goals.
Want to try a short exercise at home? Pick a moment that feels stuck — a recent argument, worry, or decision. Give the moment a simple scene: name the roles (you, other person, the worry). Spend five minutes acting each role out, using short lines and gestures. Notice what words or body positions shift how you feel. After the quick enactment, step out of the scene and write one sentence about what changed. If the exercise brings up strong emotion, stop and reach out to a trained therapist. Small scenes can reveal new choices. Explore our site for more resources.
Pioneers in Creative Arts Therapies: The Visionaries Who Shaped Healing Through Art and Expression
Explore the inspiring trailblazers behind creative arts therapies, from early art therapy to music and drama therapy, and learn how their vision reshaped mental health care through creative expression.
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