Playing with madness: Developmental Transformations and the treatment of schizophrenia

• Published in: The Arts in psychotherapy 2012-04, Vol.39 (2), p.87-94
• Main Author: Butler, Jason D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Developmental Transformations; Drama therapy; Medical sciences; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychoses; Schizophrenia
• ISSN: 0197-4556; 1873-5878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2012.01.002

► Exploration of Developmental Transformations in treating schizophrenia. ► Review of common treatments for the illness. ► Schizophrenia as a disorder of embodiment, encounter and transformations. ► Potential impact of Developmental Transformations on both positive and negative symptoms. ► Outline of sample session. This article explores the possible application of the Developmental Transformations form of drama therapy to the treatment of schizophrenia. Developmental Transformations is an embodied approach to psychotherapy that involves the therapist and client engaging in free flowing improvisation. Within this paper, the symptoms of schizophrenia are reviewed as well as common treatment methods and protocol in working with both the positive and negative symptoms of the illness. These are then compared to Developmental Transformations and its approach to illness and healing. In particular, schizophrenia is looked at through a Developmental Transformations lens, seeing it as a disorder of embodiment, encounter and transformations. Through these connections it is then suggested that Developmental Transformations has the potential to be an effective intervention in the treatment of the illness. Finally, a sample session outline is presented applying the principles explored.