Clinical
The effectiveness of drama therapy for children who have witnessed domestic abuse
Witnessing domestic violence can have a devastating effect on children’s development. Interventions for such children have previously been based on adults’ understanding of what the child has witnessed, but hearing the child’s view is imperative to learning how any intervention is experienced.
The aim of the research described here was to address the experiences of four traumatised boys, aged seven to nine, using the drama therapy model known as embodiment, projection and role (EPR). The findings indicate that the boys experienced the EPR model both positively and negatively, but flexibility within the methods of EPR was an important factor in enabling them to address their experiences safely and effectively.
