Text-based drama therapy: The state of the field in South Africa
Abstract
This article introduces the emergent field of text-based drama therapy (TbDT), with specific reference to the applicability of the method in the Global South. TbDT is situated within the broader field of online therapy, but is itself a distinct method that requires adjustments to the way the therapist builds the therapeutic alliance. The article suggests that TbDT therapists should be trained to understand the differences in control, clarity, and creativity that the method requires, as well as emphasising that TbDT is still an embodied and creative form of drama therapy. TbDT is suggested as a highly accessible form of therapy that is able to cut across language and cultural differences through the creation of a third language of connection.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Art Therapy and Mental Health
Psychology
Coaching
and Therapy
Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Publication details
- Journal / source
- South African Journal of Arts Therapies
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 46–61
- Publication date
- 3 February 2026
- Language
- EN