One of the most important challenges
any therapist faces is communicating effectively with their client..
We work hard to understand their context, their philosophy, their
world view so that our interaction is effective. This is important
when people are from similar settings, sharing the same cultural
context. It pays not to make any assumptions as always. Oscar Wilde
commented that England and The United States of America were two
countries divided by a single language.
What makes dramatherapy so effective is
that it isn't tied to language or complex cultural norms.
It's about being creative, working with
the clients' imagination, working with them through the way they
play. Play and fun a pretty much universal. Imagination is not a
cultural specific although true respect for anyone mandates respect
for their culture.
We saw this today wonderfully
illustarted by two Samoan ladies who do not speak a lot of English.
We were greatly helped by having someone to go over what we were
discussing with the group in Samoan but the actions that followed
were a tonic for every one.
The story created was about a trip to
Samoa on a Sunday - so off to church for a blessing and then to the
picnic. One lady stood and danced a beautiful slow hula and then the
other sang. Everyone in the group loved it.
In another story, a Maori lady who has
severe cognitive impairment and only uses a few words of Te Reo
dressed up, followed all the movements, and sat with a beaming smile.
Of course culture is enormously
important and we look forward to a time when we have enough drama
therapists who are fluent in Te Reo, Samoan or whatever languages we
need but until then it is so heartening to know that we can connect
through creative thinking and action.
