Abstract

The main purpose of this research project was to explore how art and drama therapy as a group function can act as a tool for developing increased emotional expression. The research focused on adolescent females experiencing difficulty with emotional expression, whom had consequently turned to self harming behaviour as an emotional outlet. The research aimed to document the therapeutic process of these adolescents as they used art and drama therapy techniques within a group setting to work through their troubles with self-harming behaviour. MacAniff Zila & Kiselica (2001) state that there are two main troubles with females who self-harm; they have difficulty with verbalizing their emotions and they are functioning from a false self. This false self is brought about by denying emotions over a long period of time. From the lack of ability to express themselves verbally, an emotional tension builds up in the body from the internalization of emotions, consequently these girls often turn to self-harm as a form of release of this tension and emotion from their bodies. Over a fourteen week period, weekly group therapy sessions were held where the participants of this research project learned how to alternately express themselves through art and drama and were encouraged to verbalize their thoughts and emotions to their peers within the safety of the group. The following case study aims to document the group and individual process of four group members as they grew interpersonally and developed a stronger sense of self through art and drama therapy techniques.