In a day and age where stress and anxiety have become constant companions, people seek all sorts of ways to release emotional blockages and engage in holistic practices.
Larger numbers of people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of mental health, especially through social media content. In Egypt, there is a specific interest in alternative therapy methods like Psychodrama – a form of psychotherapy where one acts/directs chosen events from their past.
We spoke to Dahlyia Sabbour, Drama Therapist, along with two of her workshop attendees to give you the scoop on how Psychodrama could help safely release otherwise suppressed emotions.
The Essence of Psychodrama Workshops
Dedicated to social change and human empowerment through drama therapy, Sabbour runs workshops like ‘Act to Heal’ with the intention to have participants connect to their intrinsic expressive nature and find inner resilience as they release blockages through creative expression.
The group usually meets for four hours a few times a week (for a set program duration) to explore their inner world of emotions as they act out and direct incidents that have become obstacles in their daily lives.
During the workshops, Sabbour facilitates drama tools for the participants to bond within the group, act, improvise, and look at things from a different perspective as they witness possibilities of change within a safe environment.
Reenactment Sheds A Brighter Light: Tamer’s Experience
After committing to the program of 10 workshops, Tamer was surprised to find himself dealing with situations very differently than how he would have prior to Psychodrama.
Throughout some of the sessions, Tamer acted as a director of traumatic experiences that he had once lived; he explains that the experience sheds a bright light when you watch as an outsider who looks at the situation from a completely different perspective.
In comparison to talk therapy, Tamer talks about the difference between verbally analyzing a pre-lived incident and watching the event reenacted by people you could direct. He highlights that it’s the “seeing” part that makes psychodrama such a powerful approach to understanding the emotions that result from the trauma.
Tamer sees drama therapy as a profound tool that opened his eyes to where he is in relation to the traumatic event he once lived, what he’s now ready for, and the work he still needs to do.
In response to whether he feels the program was a quick fix, he said, “it’s like your subconscious is a dark room, and psychodrama is the tool that lights up that room to show you what’s inside. You then decide what to make out of what was revealed.”
From Emotional Blockages to Emotional Strength: Sondos’ Experience
Sondos had joined Sabbour’s program with no expectations but on a quest of self-discovery and human bonding.
With a sense of curiosity paired with internal hesitation on whether to continue with the workshops, Sondos ended up facing what she refers to as “the real me that has been hiding behind so many things for a long time.”
Sondos recalls the experience as one that helped her turn what was once a blockage into a supportive companion; the work done during the sessions became a healing tool. Through the felt sense of community and group work, Sondos talks about how the participants healed through each other.
“I felt like I was not alone in this world. Others share the same experiences, same human traits, and feelings, the same desire for inner peace and growth.”
One of the main reasons Sondos believes the workshops were a success is how Sabbour held the space and guided the sessions cautiously, safely, and with wisdom. She talks about how such work could backfire if not guided professionally and under the supervision of trustworthy certified practitioners.
After concluding the program, Sondos is feeling much lighter and grateful for the unique connections she has made with fellow participants.
A Celebration of Humanity
Sabbour continues to run psychodrama workshops amongst different communities in the region to guide them inwards to their lifeforce energy. She coins the work she does with the idea that “drama is the true celebration of what it means to be human.”
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