We don’t stop playing because we grow up, we grow up because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
Developmental Transformations (DvT) is a form of drama therapy in St. Louis designed to help people heal from trauma through movement and play. It is a creative arts therapy and not your typical sit-on-the-couch-to-share-your-thoughts kind of work. In fact, DvT can be a powerful tool for those who have tried talk therapy before and felt like something was missing.
DvT is a form of drama therapy that invites you to act and play. It invites you to explore and transform both your cognitive and embodied relationship of trauma. It focuses not just on thoughts, but also on the physical sensations in your body in order to move beyond your trauma through play and free expression.
What is the playspace?
The method in which DvT guides you into your healing journey is by creating an environment known as the playspace. The playspace is where you are free to be as spontaneous and expressive as you wish, where all thoughts and feelings are accepted and can be acted out in a safe and supportive environment.
How does DvT help with trauma symptoms?
This modality of trauma therapy can be incredibly beneficial for transforming your relationship with trauma because it allows for embodied resourcing, playfulness, and experimentation. Additionally, in DvT your therapist is an active part of the play, giving them an opportunity to intervene and guide the playspace in ways that will be beneficial or may create a healing corrective experience.
As you know, suffering from trauma means you may have a lot of painful memories – many that feel overwhelming at times. DvT can make dealing with your traumatic memories more manageable because it encourages you to bring forth your internal experiences as metaphors. By using metaphors, content can be interacted with from a distance. This allows you to make progress with your feelings when talking about the traumatic story alone feels like too much.
If you are feeling stuck in your life by trauma, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our drama therapists. Hope is possible!
About the Author
Roxann Wombacher, PLPC (she/her) is a human, healing healer, artist, and proudly neurodivergent trauma therapist in St. Louis, Missouri. She is a provisionally licensed mental health therapist specializing in treating young adults to heal from trauma. Additionally, she supports folks with ADHD and those who need support navigating through life transitions using Developmental Transformations (DvT), a form of drama therapy.
