ABSTRACT
Photography has had a long history as an adjunct to verbal therapies, but very few references exist to its use in dramatherapy. This chapter will examine the use of self-portrait photography in the context of dramatherapy clinical practice, working with a young woman diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer.
The client was seen on an ongoing weekly basis over a one-and-a-half-year period in private practice, having been referred by a non-profit organisation working within a major Canadian hospital. Clinically, the individual approach centred on processes of role play, embodiment, self-portrait photography and witnessing. Similar to the methodology called Photo-Theatre of the Self as developed by British photographer Jo Spence (Martin 2001; Spence 1988; Spence 1995; Spence and Martin 1988) this process addressed issues of identity, powerlessness and changing social relationships. Since Spence’s auto-photography process was done outside of any formal counselling context, this case example will illustrate how self-portrait photography can be applied to key dramatherapy theories in a formal counselling context (Chipman 2009). Also addressed will be relevant ethical, legal and clinical issues that may arise when using photography in a therapeutic context. Clinical issues such as shifts in self-identity, interpersonal conflicts, living with serious illness,and management of depression and anxiety will be explored.
