Abstract

I returned to Easter Seals Camp Horizon in the summer of 2019 to explore the use of drama therapy methods as a means of supporting accessible camp counsellors through workplace stress. As a participant/observer, I used a heuristic approach to interpret my own experience of inhabiting the role of a drama therapy intern, as well as an employee of an accessible summer camp.
In this research paper, I will describe my process of exploring the use of drama therapy in an accessible camp environment and the practical implications of being a “camp drama therapist.” I will outline the current literature in the fields of drama therapy and accessible summer camps to justify the need for such a role and how I used a heuristic model to explore this. In the methods section of this paper, I provide examples of the drama therapy methods that I adapted from drama therapy models informed by my experience of working as a camp counsellor. I then discuss my personal findings which include the creation of an ethical and personal “camp drama therapist” role that contributes positively to the field of drama therapy and stress reduction in accessible summer camps.