Drama-based interventions offer the possibility to playful interact, change perspective and to try out new behavior. Concerning changes developing a new awareness on social interaction, increasing coping abilities and the ability to socialize are reported. Using improvisation is mentioned as a core process in the drama-based interventions for people at a lower level of functioning. Interventions using improvisation focus on the activation of resources and mutual support. Imitation of gesture can be seen as an early stage of contact. In this workshop mirroring exercises and synchronous movement exercises will be conveyed as well as improvisation exercises which promote body awareness and basic social skills.
In playful improv and synchrony-based dance and movement exercises participants will learn about this approach on a bodily level.
Regina Fabian is a certified family therapist and drama educator (University of Art, Berlin) working as a theatre therapist at the Berlin Treatment Center for Mental Health with Developmental Disabilities at KEH, Berlin. For over 25 years, she has dedicated herself to improvisational theatre (improv) and is active in the professional training for social educators, curative educators, and behavioural therapists. She has been dedicated to improvisation theatre for over 25 years being a member of one of the oldest German improv groups Die Gorillas (Berlin) and has been invited to several international improv festivals. She has already presented her improv intervention at various international congresses (EAMHID and DGPPN Congress).