Exploring core processes facilitating therapeutic change in Dramatherapy: A grounded theory analysis of published case studies

• We conducted a systematic search of the Dramatherapy literature.
• We identified thirteen eligible papers.
• We integrated clinical descriptions of Dramatherapy work using a grounded theory methodology.
• The theory constructed from the data proposed a meta-processes model of change.
• The implications of the findings are discussed as are areas for development and future research.

Limited research studies examining the core processes involved in facilitating change within Dramatherapy exist. Many papers rely on individual accounts of clinical work and, taken in isolation, potential contributions of these studies remain unrecognised. This research took a grounded theory approach to synthesise individual accounts of Dramatherapy in the literature in order to develop a theory of the core processes at work. A systematic review using an electronic and hand search of key journals identified published articles that contained ‘thick’ descriptions of Dramatherapy sessions. Grounded theory methodology was implemented to generate a theory of the core processes using a systematically applied set of methods linking analysis with data collection. Thirteen eligible papers were identified. The theory constructed from the data proposed a meta-processes model of change. These meta-processes included working in the ‘here and now’, ‘establishing safety’, ‘working alongside’ ‘offering control and choice’ and being ‘actively involved’. The implications of the findings are discussed as are areas for development and future research.