Despite the majority of participants being unfamiliar with one another, the creative drama method facilitated the rapid establishment of a warm and secure communication environment. This dynamic, interactive, and experiential process offered participants a rich learning experience, contributing significantly to both their personal awareness and professional development. Through creative drama, participants enhanced not only their professional competencies but also their self-awareness in a process rooted in direct experience.
The workshop commenced at 10:00 AM with the first session, which aimed to foster familiarity among group members, strengthen group cohesion, and lay the groundwork for the development of communication skills. Creative ice-breaker activities such as "meeting with a paper ball," "silent portrait," "occupation matching," "human bingo," "human knot," and the "five-finger rule" enabled participants to learn not only each other’s names but also personal interests, character traits, and individual differences. These activities promoted rapid interaction among participants, encouraged active participation, facilitated empathy, and cultivated a shared sense of belonging within the group.
The second session, held from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM following a lunch break, focused more intensively on the theoretical foundations of creative drama. This segment addressed the historical development of creative drama, its educational and therapeutic applications, its core principles, and practical examples from the field. Particular emphasis was placed on the relevance of creative drama in PDR, especially in supporting essential skills such as emotional expression, empathy development, and building healthy interpersonal relationships within group settings. The session concluded with a "station activity" through which participants reinforced the knowledge gained by rotating through various tasks, each associated with a different theme and application. This structure allowed participants to actively engage, collaborate in teams, develop creative solutions, and share their experiences.
Reflecting on the process, Lecturer Buse BULAT, who facilitated the workshop, stated: “Participants were not merely observers, but active agents in the process. Through drama, individuals developed skills in self-expression, group integration, and empathy. Such practices offer valuable contributions to the professional competence of those working in the field of psychological counseling.”
Feedback collected through both oral and written evaluations at the conclusion of the workshop revealed that participants found their introduction to creative drama to be deeply inspiring and awareness-enhancing. Some expressed a desire to incorporate this method into their own professional practice, while others noted the positive impact of group work and active participation on their psychological resilience. This comprehensive training once again underscored the transformative power of creative drama in enhancing both the personal and professional development of PDR professionals.
