Dramatherapist
Use drama and theatre to help people work through social and emotional challenges. You'll create a safe space for people to express themselves using role-playing, improv and group work.
About the job
What it's like
Dramatherapy is a creative career in healthcare. You'll use the power of drama to help people explore and deal with personal and social problems.
You'll work with people of all ages with a variety of difficulties. Your clients may have:
emotional, behavioural or mental health problems
learning or physical disabilities
neurological disorders
addictions or eating disorders
physical illnesses
You’ll guide people to use imagination and the creative side of their personalities to explore past trauma. There are lots of methods you might use, including the creative use of voices, movement, storytelling, mime, puppetry and masks.
People might find the process distressing so you you'll need to show empathy by communicating and listening well. You’ll boost their confidence, self-esteem and understanding of themselves and the difficulties they've encountered.
Your tasks might include:
creating and leading therapy programmes that meet your clients' specific needs
encouraging people to express what they feel and think about the world around them, both verbally or non-verbally
working with clients as part of a group or one-to-one
acting out situations from different perspectives in a safe and supportive environment
working closely with a range professionals including therapy specialists, social workers, mental health nurses and GPs
keeping client information private and following professional standards
You may work for the NHS, arts organisations, hospices or charities. You could even work in probation centres or lead training courses to guide and help others develop therapeutic skills.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
NHS Scotland Careers – learn more about being a dramatherpapist
NHS Scotland Careers – watch immersive videos to learn how dramatherapy and other creative therapy sessions work
Health and Care Professions Council – explore approved courses in Scotland
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- mentoring
- time management
- self esteem
- developing a plan
- empathising
- researching
- creative
- verbal communication
- listening
- reflecting
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Care
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Childcare and Development
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Drama
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services Children and Young People
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You'll need a postgraduate qualification in dramatherapy, recognised by the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth).
Check out the routes you could take to work towards this.
University
To get into a postgraduate course in Dramatherapy, you'll need a degree in a relevant subject. This could be:
Drama
Theatre Studies
Psychology
Occupational Therapy
Social Work
Nursing
Explore using our course search.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Drama
Acting and Theatre Performance
Psychology
Occupational Therapy Support
Social Work
Nursing
If you're an adult looking to get back into education, consider the Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP). It offers routes to university by learning at college first.
If you don't have a degree and have been out of education for at least three years, you could be eligible. You can read more about eligibility on the SWAP website.
See what's available using our course search.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You could get an MA in Social Services and Healthcare, learn more about this on Apprenticeships.scot.
theatre performance experience
volunteering or work experience in a caring role
a full UK driving licence
You'll need to get experience of personal therapy and clinical supervision. With enough practical experience in drama and counselling, you can become a full member of the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth).
To offer treatment to members of the public, you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
You'll often be working with children or vulnerable adults. You'll need to pass a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Disclosure check for some jobs.
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