British Association of Dramatherapists

13/07/2026

"We don't do drama at our clinic, we do enactment!" 🎭✨

Think drama starts at age 7? Think again! There is a common assumption that dramatic play waits until middle childhood, leading many to believe that younger children only need traditional play therapy.

In this upcoming CPD workshop, we will turn that theory on its head.

Led by Dr Sue Jennings, we will discover that:

👶 It all begins during pregnancy and continues right from birth.
🍼 The first year of life is absolutely crucial for establishing "let's pretend."
🎨 Play therapy training needs more drama, and dramatherapy training needs more play!

We will also take a look back at the fascinating history of theatre—from being central to ancient Greek civilisation to a time in England when actors were classed alongside tramps and vagabonds!

What to expect in the practical workshop:
♦The experiential part of this session explores our personal "drama self," including how we respond to mess, form, chaos, and order. You’ll leave with the courage to feel more confident in your own drama identity, alongside practical, take-away skills you can apply directly to your workplace.

The session concludes with dedicated time for questions and discussion.

📅 Date: Friday 2nd October
⏰ Time: 18:00 - 21:00 BST
🎟️ Early Bird Prices:
Student/Concession: £60
BADth Member: £70
Non-Member: £110
(+ booking fee)

🔗 How to book: Space is limited, so please click here to secure your spot - https://events.humanitix.com/daisy-chains-the-roots-of-dramatherapy-in-sensory-and-dramatic-play

09/07/2026

Join Marissa Green for an informative, reflective, and creative online workshop.

This session is designed to help Dramatherapists—whether currently practising or aspiring—to better distinguish, develop, and measure the "products" of the therapeutic process.

From shifts in attachment perspectives to rebuilding a relationship with trust, we will explore how outcomes are shaped by the client, the therapist, and external organisations.

This interactive workshop blends structured learning with personal reflection and group discussion. Expect a mix of:

💻 PowerPoint-led learning
🎨 Creative and verbal exploration
🤝 Peer-to-peer discussion

Key Learning Objectives:
🔹Distinguish and develop clear therapeutic outcomes.
🔹Understand how desired outcomes from various parties (clients, parents, organisations) impact your work.
🔹Gain practical tools for measuring and communicating these shifts effectively.

📅 Date: Thursday 24th September
⏰ Time: 19:00 - 20:30
🎟️ Early Bird Prices:
Student/Concession: £30
BADth Member: £40
Non-Member: £60
(+ Booking Fee)

🔗 Click here to secure your spot today: https://bit.ly/4foNzdY

08/07/2026

A message from your Dramatherapy in Private Practice Committee...

Whether you're a dramatherapist in private practice, operating in a freelance capacity, or running a therapy business, if you store client data you are subject to data protection laws. Take a look at this most recent update from the ICO, and make sure your policies are up to date and readily available. As always, you can get in touch with us at [email protected] for support and guidance surrounding working in private practice - we'd love to hear from you.

Read the full guidance here:

This guidance explains what you need to do to meet the new requirements for you to have a data protection complaints process, as set out in the Data (Use and Access) Act. Although these requirements are not in force until 19 June 2026, we think it is useful for this to be published now so that you a...

08/07/2026

🎭 Health Promotion in Public Health: The Role of Dramatherapy 🎭

How do we move from treating mental ill-health to actively preventing it? And where does the creative, embodied practice of dramatherapy fit within the broader machinery of Public Health?

Join Lorna for an immersive, interactive BADth CPD workshop that traces the journey of Health Promotion—from historical foundations to modern, grassroots applications. Together, you will explore the how and why behind community illness, challenge systemic policy issues, and map out exactly how dramatherapy serves as a powerful tool for healing and prevention.

🧠 What Will Be Covered:

The Foundations of Health Promotion: Connecting historical frameworks (WHO, Ottawa Charter, Tannahill’s model) to modern Public Health using quantitative data and real-world case studies.

The Prevention Paradox: Unpacking High-Risk vs. Population approaches and discovering where dramatherapy dynamically fits into the equation.

The Spectrum of Prevention: An interactive mapping activity exploring dramatherapy's distinct role across Primordial, Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary prevention stages.

Confronting "Lifestyle Drift": Analysing how policy-driven "blame and shame" inhibits healing at the grassroots level, and how dramatherapy can disrupt this cycle.

The Evidence Hierarchy & Community Action: Using an interactive Tree Diagram to analyse the root causes of community mental health issues and propose creative interventions for marginalised populations.

👥 Who Is This For?
This session is ideal for Dramatherapists, mental health practitioners, public health advocates, students, and anyone passionate about creative, systemic approaches to community well-being.

📅 Date: Tuesday 1st September
⏰ Time: 18:30 - 20:00
🎟️ Early Bird Prices:

Student/Concession: £30
BADth Member: £40
Non-Member: £60
(+ Booking Fee)

🔗 Ready to challenge inequalities and influence health strategy? Click here: https://events.humanitix.com/health-promotion-in-public-health-the-role-of-dramatherapy

16/06/2026

The Living Body of Dramatherapy: Birth, Being, Becoming.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of BADTh
The countdown to a historic milestone for our community officially begins today.

We are thrilled to announce the dates for the 2027 BADTh Annual Conference, hosted at the beautiful campus from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th September 2027.

This landmark year marks half a century of creativity, connection, and healing. Our 50th anniversary conference is a vital space to honor our rich history, ground our current clinical practice, and actively shape the future of dramatherapy together.

Whether you are a practitioner, researcher, student, or ally, your voice and presence are an essential part of this living community.

📅 Save the date in your diary: 3rd – 5th September 2027

Let’s start connecting early—tag your colleagues, alumni networks, and peers in the comments below to make sure everyone has these dates locked in.

👇 Who will we see in the room at Lancaster? Let us know below!

11/06/2026

Our Annual General Meeting is officially locked in for Saturday 24th October 2026.

The AGM is our opportunity as a community to come together, reflect on everything we've achieved over the past year, and look forward to the upcoming changes and milestones on the horizon.

For now, simply pop this in your calendar. We will be sending out full details and the online links closer to the time.

The Details:
📅 Date: Saturday, 24th October 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Where: Online

We look forward to seeing you there.

15/05/2026

At BADth, we believe the richest learning comes from the shared experiences of our peers. Whether you have a niche speciality, a unique creative intervention, or years of clinical insight, we want to help you turn that knowledge into a CPD session.

No BADth membership? No problem. We are looking for diverse perspectives and welcome proposals from members and non-members alike.

Whether you have a focused one-hour workshop or a more in-depth, multi-hour masterclass, we offer a flexible platform to suit your content. From traditional Dramatherapy techniques to interdisciplinary approaches—all topics are welcome!

Why host with us?

🔹Inclusivity: Open to all practitioners (non-members welcome!).

🔹Flexibility: Sessions can run from one hour upwards.

🔹Impact: Reach a dedicated community of practitioners and contribute to the growth of the field.

Ready to lead the conversation? Submit your expression of interest to [email protected]

11/05/2026

WE NEED YOU – Join BADth’s Inclusion & Visibility Committee! 🎭

Are you passionate about equity and representation? We’re looking for fresh perspectives to help build a more inclusive dramatherapy community.

Why Join Us?

🔹Representation Matters: Help move EDI from a buzzword to a lived reality.

🔹Intersectionality is Strength: Celebrate the complex layers of identity (race, gender, disability, neurodivergence, and beyond).

🔹Accountability: Ensure our practice remains ethical, safe, and reflective for all.

What You’ll Do:
Turn "difficult discussions" into transformative action through passion-led projects:
✨ Lead initiatives like LGBTQ+ advocacy or decolonising the drama room.
✨ Facilitate specialised training and toolkits.
✨ Build peer support networks for intersectional voices.

Ready to shape the future of dramatherapy?
Bring your passion and your story. There is a space for you here.

📧 Contact: Email [email protected] to get involved!

05/05/2026

How do we quantify the profound shifts we witness in the therapy room?

As therapists in private practice, we see the value of our work every day—in a breakthrough creative expression, a met goal, or a strengthening therapeutic bond. But the question remains: How do we measure it, and why should we?

Hosted by & , this experiential online CPD explores how outcome measurement can actually enhance the integrity and client-focused nature of your practice, rather than detract from it.

While this session is run by Dramatherapists, the insights and methods are relevant to all therapists in private practice.

📅 Date: Tuesday, 12th May

🕒 Time: 15:00 – 16:00

💻 Format: Experiential Online CPD

🎟️ Tickets: Student/Concession £10 | BADth Member £15 | Non-Member £20 (+ booking fee)

🔗 Book your spot here: https://bit.ly/3OIWWuz

23/04/2026

Join Marissa Green for an informative, reflective, and creative online workshop.
This session is designed to help Dramatherapists—whether currently practising or aspiring—to better distinguish, develop, and measure the "products" of the therapeutic process.

From shifts in attachment perspectives to rebuilding a relationship with trust, we will explore how outcomes are shaped by the client, the therapist, and external organisations.

This interactive workshop blends structured learning with personal reflection and group discussion. Expect a mix of:

💻 PowerPoint-led learning
🎨 Creative and verbal exploration
🤝 Peer-to-peer discussion

Key Learning Objectives:
🔹Distinguish and develop clear therapeutic outcomes.
🔹Understand how desired outcomes from various parties (clients, parents, organisations) impact your work.
🔹Gain practical tools for measuring and communicating these shifts effectively.

🔗 Click here to secure your spot today: https://bit.ly/4cFKTpF