Below are the REQUIREMENTS for becoming a Registered Drama Therapist through the National Association of Drama Therapists.
Required Drama Therapy Coursework
Coursework required by the National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT) for the Registered Drama Therapy credential includes the following (24 credits total needed):
1. Principles of Drama Therapy (3 credits)
2. Creative Drama/Improvisation (3 credits)
3. Creative Arts (3 credits)
4. Drama Therapy with Special Populations (3 credits)
5. Research in Drama Therapy/Creative Arts (3 credits)
6. Psychodrama/Sociodrama (3 credits)
7. Group Dynamics (3 credits)
8. Ethics and Legal Issues (3 credits)
9. Advanced Elective (3 credits)
1. Principles of Drama Therapy (3 credits)
2. Creative Drama/Improvisation (3 credits)
3. Creative Arts (3 credits)
4. Drama Therapy with Special Populations (3 credits)
5. Research in Drama Therapy/Creative Arts (3 credits)
6. Psychodrama/Sociodrama (3 credits)
7. Group Dynamics (3 credits)
8. Ethics and Legal Issues (3 credits)
9. Advanced Elective (3 credits)
Psychology Coursework
To become a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) one needs the following psychology coursework from an accredited college. One of these courses, however is allowed to be taken through a non-accredited special institute or program:
1. Development Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
2. Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology (3 credits)
3. Group Dynamics (3 credits)
4. Theories of Personality (3 credits)
1. Development Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
2. Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology (3 credits)
3. Group Dynamics (3 credits)
4. Theories of Personality (3 credits)
Theatre/Experience Training
To become a Registered Drama Therapist, one needs 500 hours of theater experience.
In the Imagine Drama Therapy program, each student will do an Independent Study Therapetee Theatre production toward the theater experience requirement. In addition, the following are theater electives offered:
1. Transformational Theater Direction and Practice
2. Improvisation and Theater Lab II, III – 1-9 credits
3. Independent Study – Therapetee Theatre – 3 credits
In the Imagine Drama Therapy program, each student will do an Independent Study Therapetee Theatre production toward the theater experience requirement. In addition, the following are theater electives offered:
1. Transformational Theater Direction and Practice
2. Improvisation and Theater Lab II, III – 1-9 credits
3. Independent Study – Therapetee Theatre – 3 credits
Additional Training
A minimum of 500 hours of additional hours are required from one or any combination of the following categories:
A. Drama Therapy Work Experience
B. Drama Therapy Internship hours
C. Drama Therapy training or Psychotherapy training (including continuing education workshops, seminars, and conferences)
D. Up to 100 hours of personal psychotherapy within the past five (5) years
Imagine Drama Therapy offers the following coursework, which fits into category C above. Each course is 1 credit:
1. First Imprints: Womb, Birth and Breath with Shamanic Breathwork Lab Experiential
2. Inner Child Studies
3. Imagine Recovery – Healing Addiction and Codependency with Expressive Therapies
4. The Hidden Meaning of Illness/Energy and the Brain
5. Transpersonal Psychology and Counseling Skills for Creative Arts Therapists
6. Universal Spiritual Principles and the Cosmos
7. Consciousness and Creation
8. Intimacy Without Responsibility – Conscious Evolution of Love
9. Shamanic Breathwork Practicum/Experiential (1 credit)
10. Shamanic Studies
11. Mandala Studies
12. Soul Writing
Exciting News: These courses also count toward The Imagination Process Professional Facilitator Credential...
A. Drama Therapy Work Experience
B. Drama Therapy Internship hours
C. Drama Therapy training or Psychotherapy training (including continuing education workshops, seminars, and conferences)
D. Up to 100 hours of personal psychotherapy within the past five (5) years
Imagine Drama Therapy offers the following coursework, which fits into category C above. Each course is 1 credit:
1. First Imprints: Womb, Birth and Breath with Shamanic Breathwork Lab Experiential
2. Inner Child Studies
3. Imagine Recovery – Healing Addiction and Codependency with Expressive Therapies
4. The Hidden Meaning of Illness/Energy and the Brain
5. Transpersonal Psychology and Counseling Skills for Creative Arts Therapists
6. Universal Spiritual Principles and the Cosmos
7. Consciousness and Creation
8. Intimacy Without Responsibility – Conscious Evolution of Love
9. Shamanic Breathwork Practicum/Experiential (1 credit)
10. Shamanic Studies
11. Mandala Studies
12. Soul Writing
Exciting News: These courses also count toward The Imagination Process Professional Facilitator Credential...
Internship and Work as a Drama Therapist
NOTE: 800 hours will be a combination of the following internship requirements (Internship I and II for 3 credits each):
1. Imagination Group Facilitator Internship: (a) Each 7 Week Wednesday Phase of The Imagination Process = 28 Internship Hours (3 hours process; 1 hour set up/clean up); (b) Each Weekend Phase of The Imagination Process = 32 Internship Hours (includes set up/clean up); (c) Each 7 Week Wednesday Supervision Class = 14 hours toward internship/supervision for a total possibility of 74 hours per phase toward the internship/supervision requirement.
2. Students will also be required to work with individual clients and will receive 3 hours of credit per client per session (1 hour face to face; 2 hours preparation and planning); and
3. Students required to create/lead one drama therapy group on their own toward the internship hours.
1. Imagination Group Facilitator Internship: (a) Each 7 Week Wednesday Phase of The Imagination Process = 28 Internship Hours (3 hours process; 1 hour set up/clean up); (b) Each Weekend Phase of The Imagination Process = 32 Internship Hours (includes set up/clean up); (c) Each 7 Week Wednesday Supervision Class = 14 hours toward internship/supervision for a total possibility of 74 hours per phase toward the internship/supervision requirement.
2. Students will also be required to work with individual clients and will receive 3 hours of credit per client per session (1 hour face to face; 2 hours preparation and planning); and
3. Students required to create/lead one drama therapy group on their own toward the internship hours.