CREATIVE THERAPIES CENTER
Upcoming Fall
Semester 2023
The Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles
All classes are on zoom and some classes are Hybrid.
Principles of Drama Therapy (3 units)
Dates: Sept. 23, 30, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, 18
Time: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm (PST)
Cost: $899
Instructors: Pam Dunne, Ph.D, RDT-BCT, NT, Kamran Afary PH.D, RDT, NT, Renda Dionne Madrigal Ph.D, RDT, NT, with guest instructors Aileen Cho & Lara Gold
Participants will explore drama therapy approaches of Role Theory, Narradrama, Integrative 5 Phase, Transpersonal, Ethnodrama, Insight Improvisation, Social Theatre, and DVT as well as projective and psychodramatic techniques applied to specific populations. Through experiential exercises, participants will discover ways to creatively utilize projective techniques with masks, puppets, life size dolls and objects and will also participate in practicing psychodramatic techniques of role reversal, doubling, interviewing and mirroring.
Playback Theatre: Playing the Form ( 7 CE/hrs, .5 unit)
Date: Oct. 8 and 22
Time: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm (PST)
Facilitator: Rachel Brousseau, LMFT, RDT/BC
Cost: $169
In this class, participants will share stories, learning multiple Playback Theatre forms to practice in the online space. Participants will begin the practice of taking on the role of conductor to encourage self-confidence in this role. Group will continue to explore Playback as a tool for drama therapy in different settings.
Narradrama and Mindfulness (7 CE/ hours, .5 unit)
Date: Oct. 1
Time: 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM PST
Facilitator: Renda Dionne Madrigal, Ph.D., RDT, NT
Participants will explore the fundamentals of mindfulness practices integrated with Narradrama through a series of exercises and applied to a variety of educational and therapeutic settings. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we are doing and Narradrama offers an opportunity to experience that kind of presence through authentic stories and actions invited by that awareness.
Poetry and Expressive Art Multimodal Methods to Cope with Grief and Loss (7 hours/CE’s)
Dates: Sept. 10 and 17
Time: 9:30 am to 1:00 pm (PST)
Cost: $169
Instructor: Terhi K. Korkiakangas, Ph.D, CL. Hyp
Discover how poetry and expressive art therapeutic methods help to explore grief and loss in a range of contexts, such as the death of a loved one, critical illness, miscarriage or loss of a child, divorce or end of a relationship, and other significant losses. Learn about the five stages of grief (Kubler-Ross, 1970), and the more recent paradigm of continuing bonds (Klass, Silverman, & Nickman, 1996), and how the poetic exploration can facilitate coping in the grieving process. Actively participate in creative, multimodal exercises to experience the therapeutic, strength-based benefits of poetry and arts focused on making meaning out ofand transforming grief while adapting to loss.
Narradrama and Neuroscience: ( 7 Hrs/ CEs – .5 unit)
Date: Fri Sep 29, and Fri Oct 6 (7 hours)
Time: 12:30 am to 4:00 pm (PST)
Cost: $169
Instructor: Pam Dunne, Ph.D., RDT, BCT, NT
*Required for Narradrama Training
Course will cover research on positive emotions, and the importance of social engagement from a neurological point of view. Siegel’s (2011) research of the four areas that contribute to synaptic growth (emotional arousal, repetition, novelty, and focused attention) will be explored in Narradrama research and through experiential exercises utilizing drama and the creative arts. Participants will discover through selected Narradrama interventions how Narradrama can be utilized to strengthen synaptic connections in each of the 4 areas.
Drama Therapy and Narradrama: Justice Impacted Persons ( 7/ CE hours)
Date: Dec 3
Time: 10:30 am to 6:00 pm (PST)
Cost: $169
Instructor: Kamran Afary PH.D, RDT, NT, Elizabeth Alteet
*Required for Narradrama Training
This workshop will cover case studies and techniques from both the U.S. and abroad in working with justice impacted persons, including imprisoned persons, transitional periods after prison, and support for families of impacted persons. The workshop covers both educational and therapeutic settings.