Little-Known & Unusual Careers in the Medical and Health Field

I first heard about drama therapy while working in theater in New York City. I majored in acting at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and auditioned for a theater company that performed for audiences in mental health settings, like hospitals, shelters, and halfway houses.

I felt more fulfilled, creative, and excited about working in mental health than I did about attending auditions for plays that only my close friends or parents would ever see. That’s what motivated me to go back to grad school to become a counselor and drama therapist.

If you are considering a career in creative arts therapy, I think it’s very important to be strategic about how you’re going to support yourself financially.

Unlike other mental health professions like counseling or social work, in most states the creative arts therapies are not legally recognized. This can make it difficult to work in some settings, like hospitals or mental health agencies, because you may not be able to have insurance cover your therapy sessions. Think about the kind of clients you might like to work with, and where you envision yourself practicing therapy. I’d also encourage you to reach out to other professionals in your chosen field to see how they’re making it work for themselves.

You may find in the end that it is helpful to get your training in a graduate program that also gives you another license, like counseling, since this expands your options for work.

A typical day for me starts with making phone calls, writing notes and documenting my sessions, and generally doing a lot of the same busywork you’d see any mental health professional complete.

Being in private practice allows me to set my own hours, and I take a break in the afternoon to exercise and refuel. In the afternoon when kids get out of school, it’s showtime! I work with kids one-on-one using imaginative play, role-playing, and other art and drama techniques along with more traditional counseling to help children overcome anxiety or move past trauma.

Each hour of therapy is different, and there are many surprises and unexpected twists and turns. I’m never bored. I find that using drama helps kids to explore real issues through “pretend” experiences, which makes them feel safer and easier to talk about.

To qualify for my job, I first pursued undergrad training in theater. I have a BFA in Drama with a focus in acting from NYU. Next, I went to a 2-year intensive grad school program in mental health counseling, where we attended school year-round and also began interning in the student counseling office at our university.

After graduation, I had to practice under the supervision of a more senior therapist for about 2 years, and also pursued independent study with the North American Drama Therapy Association to get my RDT credential, making me an “official” drama therapist. After finishing my supervised hours and postgrad training, I was ready to work on my own in private practice.