Role-play, a staple in drama therapy, involves clients acting out roles or scenarios to explore behaviors and emotions in a safe and controlled environment. Clients can benefit in many ways when participating in role-play within a group therapy setting. In this article, I will focus on what I believe are the four most beneficial components of role-play.

Before I get to why you, as a therapist, would benefit from incorporating role-play into your groups, I want to address a reality: role-playing can be met with resistance in the context of group therapy. It can be overwhelming, intimidating, and awkward to take on a role and engage in role-play in front of a group of people, not only for the client but also for the therapist!

The solution? To incorporate role-play “drama therapy” style, which means that the clients take on roles within the context of a performance that the therapist directs. In other words, it is the therapist’s role to “set the stage” for the role-play. When we use these creative arts therapy tools, the role-play experience is less “awkward” and more "fun."

Through role-play, therapists can create a safe and supportive environment in which clients can express emotions, confront fears, and rehearse new behaviors. The use of a "role" offers a secure container that allows clients to playfully explore, make corrections, and modify behaviors (Butler, 2012). A mistake made or a flaw revealed while in role can be attributed to the character, not the actor. As a result, the client feels safe to practice, which is critical to the learning process.

This safety net is crucial for clients who may be hesitant to try new behaviors in real-life situations. By practicing in a contained setting, clients can build confidence and refine their skills before applying them outside of........

© Psychology Today