EXHUMING THE LATENT ABILITIES IN THE COGNITIVE IMPAIRED IN GHANA USING PSYCHODRAMA OR DRAMA THERAPY

Authors

  • Tabitha Harriet Deh Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v0i0.2268

Keywords:

latent abilities, cognitive impaired, psychodrama or drama therapy, Ghana

Abstract

A closer look at the components of the Expressive Arts; dance, drama, music, visual art etc., discloses an enormous potential in effecting positive attitudinal and behavioral change in its users. Drama therapy and/or Psychodrama which encourages creativity and spontaneity, employs action methods in varied techniques to attain thriving therapeutic results. This concept is explored with the children of Dzorwulu Special School in Accra, Ghana. Healing in this context means to enliven the situations these children find themselves in, so that the creative activities they indulge in become a metaphor in this adjunct healing method. Drama therapy therefore is a potential teaching tool for intervention to achieve change and transformation in these special needs children. In these therapeutic processes, the children are encouraged to develop their artistic potentials regardless of their intellectual inadequacies so that their handicaps become tolerable to allow development to proceed. Creativity and therapy will then play complementary roles rather than opposing one another.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter

DOI

References

Blatner, A., & Blatner, A. (1988). The Art of Play: An Adult's Guide to Reclaiming Imagination and Spontaneity. New York: Human Science Press.

Duke, C.R. (1974). Creative Dramatic and Teaching English. Kenyon Road, Urbana, Illinois: National Council of Teachers in English.

Jennings, S. (1995). Drama therapy with Children and Adolescents. Embodiment Projection Role (EPR). Home Rowan Sue Resource Play and Stories EPR contact.

Moreno, J.L. (1947). The Theatre of Spontaneity. New York, Beacon House. National Assessment and Resource Centre. [NARC]. (2009). Children with Special Needs in Ghana. National Assessment and Resource Centre for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs.

Rogers, N. (1993). Creative Connections; Expressive Arts as Healing. Palo Alto, California: Science & Behavior Books, Inc.

Rubin, A.J. (1987). Approaches to Art Therapy: Theory and Technique. New York: Brunner/ Mazel Publishers.

Downloads

Published

2019-02-16

Issue

Vol 4, No 1 (2019)

Section

Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

 

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).