Abstract

Dramatherapist Armand Volkas has been developing the first dramatherapeutic method geared towards cultural/ethnic/national groups in conflict. Healing the Wounds of History--The Acts of Reconciliation Project is a six phase dramatherapeutic model which Volkas conceptualized and continues to modify as a way to allow individuals to deconstruct and reconstruct their personal as well as cultural identity through the exploration of personal narrative. This innovative model has the ability to advance the applications of dramatherapy, addressing the emerging need to incorporate political and social factors into our evolving field. According to Davis (2002), "In Armand's workshops, the enemy is unmasked, pain is shared and compassion is born. Reconciliation is celebrated through social action and creativity" (p.225). Healing the Wounds of History is the first paradigm within the field of dramatherapy that attempts to incorporate individuals' sense of historical and personal traumata by means of combining cognitive, embodied and expressive interventions. This groundbreaking model has been maturing over the past 15 years and has become a functional method in addressing the many implications that arise while exploring diverse, deeply rooted cultural conflicts. Mr. Volkas is a true pioneer in the field of dramatherapy and it is my belief that his method ought to be taught in core courses as one of the foundations of our budding discipline. It is my hope that this research project will be among one of the preliminary initiations of this historical documentation and that Volkas' work will live beyond his own teachings in San Francisco, allowing every dramatherapist, dramatherapist-in-training and psychotherapist access to his methodology, wisdom and experience.