ABSTRACT

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The foundations of and relationship between psychodrama and dramatherapy are as complex as the answer to the inscrutable question. The two forms of therapy are intertwined and their individual origins are obscure. That Moreno invented psychodrama is undeniable. We have his writings for reference, confirming that he based his work on dramatic expression. Dramatherapy is also based on the dramatic process, and the healing powers of that process were present long before Moreno saw their potential. He harnessed those elements to create a powerful method of therapy, but the healing in drama had been recognised for centuries (Jones 1996:46). Both therapies use drama as the medium for change. In this chapter, some of those healing aspects-catharsis, metaphor, ritual, role and theatre-will be examined. Their use in both psychodrama and dramatherapy will be explored.