ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates that adults with autism and complex needs and who are non-verbal have benefited from dramatherapy in a number of areas. Dramatherapy referrals came from support staff, specialist community teams or previous therapists. The main reasons for referral were to encourage creative expression and develop relationship. Communication, trust and well-being, family dynamics, change and loss, behavioural difficulties, self-harm, and abuse also featured in dramatherapy. Most frequently the dramatherapists identified their clients as having a learning disability, and/or behaviour that is challenging or self-harming. Mental ill health issues, repetitive patterns, social isolation, emotional dysregulation, abuse, neglect, and physical disability were also mentioned. Dramatherapy interventions are plentiful, and are methods of conversation that enable the dramatherapist to listen, attune to, and enter into the client's world. All dramatherapists noticed an improvement in positive mental health, with dramatherapy providing the client with a greater sense of self and developing stability; self-harm reduces and calmness and relaxation are more accessible.
