On the Edge

Providing evidence that Dramatherapy is effective is becoming increasingly
important as commissioners want to fund evidence based practice. Whether you
are a complete novice or have already done some research, this workshop will
provide you with some key tips and insights into the research process and help
you to take your ideas forward.
This will be a joint workshop with the Council for AHP Research.
Dr Emma Godfrey is jointly registered with the HCPC as a Dramatherapist and
Psychologist. She is a Lecturer at King’s College London and is on the BADth
Exec in charge of the research task force and promoting the evidence base for
Dramatherapy.
Ann Moore is Professor Emerita of Physiotherapy and Director of the Council for
AHP Research. She has worked as an academic/researcher at the University of
Brighton since 1990 and became Head of the Centre for Health Research in the
School of Health Sciences.
OPTION 6 – PAPERS
TO A DIFFERENT HEARTBEAT
This paper explores the impact on the developing child in the womb when the
mother experiences severe emotional trauma and abuse at conception or during
pregnancy. How do her feelings of anxiety, fear, anger, shame, or powerlessness
affect the child within? What are the longer-term effects on the child’s
emotional development, and how can Dramatherapy help such children and
young people?
It describes development of Dramatherapy practice as commissioned by
Mainstream and EBD Education for children and adolescents displaying severe
emotional or behavioural disturbances which disrupted their ability to socialise or
engage in learning. Although provision was for pupils with a wide range of
problems resulting from DV and abuse, this research focuses on those whose
initial trauma appeared to occur before birth. It became evident that these pupils
are generally more damaged, less empathetic, have a more fragile sense of self
and fewer coping mechanisms than those traumatised after birth.
Dramatherapy had not been used before in Education in the County. This was
breaking new ground. Considerable work was needed to inform County Funders,
Head Teachers, SENCOS, Teachers and Care Staff of the application and
effectiveness of this arts-based psychological therapy. There were prejudices
and assumptions to overcome in a setting that favours the cognitive, and
especially where the approach was behavioural. How can we provide robust
enough evidence of the efficacy of our work to meet the changing needs in
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