Student Wellbeing 

Rehearsal for Real Life: Dramatherapy Program

This term we were fortunate to launch our very first Rehearsal for Real Life Dramatherapy program. While some students were a little nervous to begin with, their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive – the group has been described as “amazing” and “not at all what we expected.”

The program is funded through a generous grant to our school and will continue into next term. Designed and facilitated by Dr Amanda Musicka Williams, who has over twenty years’ experience delivering creative arts therapies in schools, the program offers a unique and engaging alternative to traditional talk therapies.

Dramatherapy uses play, role-play and other creative techniques to help students explore and rehearse real-life situations. This hands-on approach gives young people the opportunity to practice social and emotional skills in a safe environment and then reflect on how these strategies can be applied in everyday life.

The program supports students to build skills in areas such as:

• Emotional intelligence and self-regulation

• Embodied communication

• Social problem solving and teamwork

• Personal boundaries and consent

• Exploring strengths and positive self-talk

• Resilience, adaptability and self-reflection

Across the ten weeks, students will explore a variety of themes, from learning how to manage tricky feelings, to developing strategies for dealing with peer challenges and rehearsing positive social behaviours. Each session is carefully designed to build confidence, strengthen social skills, and provide students with a “toolbox” of strategies they can carry into the future.

We are excited to continue this journey into next term and look forward to seeing the positive impact this creative and practical program will have on the wellbeing of our students.