USA: Therapeutic theatre production at Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, NY
"The Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness division at Golisano Children’s Hospital has organized a youth-managed, therapeutic theatre production that includes currently and formerly engaged patients as part of their Creative Arts Therapies program. The program provides an opportunity for patients to wield their interest in the arts to reach their therapy goals and healing through creativity. These groups use art, music, drama, and even the Dungeons and Dragons concept (D&D), to drive positive outcomes in children and adolescents.
The Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness division says that the use of D&D-style role-playing in therapy has become a popular method to treat issues associated with tough topics for children, such as self-esteem, bullying, gender identity, sexuality, trauma, and building healthy relationships.
The Creative Arts Therapies program has now evolved that concept to an on-stage adaptation that will engage participants in all aspects of the production. The group aged 13 to 18, is planning to stage the play She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition by Qui Nguyen, the tale of a young girl who processed the grief from a traumatic loss through D&D.
The primary goal of this production is to allow participants to develop community, engage in positive creative self-expression, explore themes relevant to their lives, and be witnessed and supported by the greater Rochester community."
Access the original article by WUHF for Fox Rochester.
