The art and science of role-playing need more attention as an intervention in behavioral health treatment. It is a technique that helps the client get “out of themselves” and pretend to be someone else. Yet it often is overlooked as an approach to use with clients. But its benefits help clients use real-life situations and create new pathways to success.
Role-playing is a technique that comes from the process of acting. The teacher asks students to portray different characters, emotions, and objects in a drama class. “Be a tree whistling in the wind,” “Pretend you’re an eagle in the sky, flying,” “In this scene, you’re going to tell your friend you don’t want to see them again.” When acting, a person has to become someone else. They have to move beyond the way they see the world and change. In his book, “The Body Keeps the Score,” Dr. Bessel van der Kolk talks about how theater provides opportunities for youths to deal with trauma. In his Actors Gang Prison Project, Tim Robbins teaches inmates how to use makeup and improvisation to deal with their emotions.
Most professionals do not find role-playing something with which they are comfortable. “It’s not logical or part of talk therapy,” they may say.
Yet to many clients, especially children in elementary school, role-playing fits their personalities. Children spend much of their time in play. They make up characters and scenarios when they play with their friends or alone. They conduct role-playing sessions daily, becoming princesses, superheroes, bad guys, or whatever they want to be. It helps them build their creativity. And, right-brain activity reaches the emotional part of the brain more directly than trying to talk to them.
Role-playing gives a client ways to improve how they see the world. Here is an example. Suppose a client has trouble with others who bully them. A practitioner can tell the client to walk away or tell them to leave the client alone. That’s one approach. But instead, if the practitioner role-played the bullies (or did a reverse role-playing and acted as the client), they could act out the scene. They can portray it vividly and make it real for the client. Help them deal with their anxiety in the event and, in a safe space, practice what to say and do. Role-playing provides times to be someone else and change who a client is.
Got questions? We've got answers.
PRAXES is a nationwide behavioral health software, consulting, and training company. No one in the behavioral health industry has a better reputation, and if you give us the chance, we’ll show you why! At PRAXES, our services improve the efficiency and structure of behavioral health agencies serving children and families nationwide. PRAXES brings over 45 years of administrative and clinical expertise. With more than 100 client companies nationwide, we offer the expertise to advance the quality of behavioral health services. We accomplish these goals through our new clinical decision software, our training of best practices, and helping companies meet regulatory standards. At PRAXES, we believe in being creative and fostering new ways to serve children and their families. Our vision is to empower the families our agencies serve with skills that not only improve their functioning, but help them to thrive in their everyday lives. When you give us the chance, you’ll be connected directly to our friendly staff, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So, don’t wait, call now!
Dan Thorne has unique perspectives on the field of mental health. As a clinician, he has had over 40 years of experience working with clients in the Southern California area. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, he worked with children in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Here he honed his earliest techniques on at-risk children. After that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton.
In the 1990’s, Dan turned his attention to the clinical and administrative side of behavioral health organizations. For three years, he was the Assistant Administrator of Starting Point, a chemical dependency facility in Costa Mesa, CA. In 2001, he took an opportunity to be the Director of Harbor View Community Services Center in Long Beach. When he arrived, the Center had only 80 clients and 13 staff. When he left, there were over 400 clients and 75 staff. Dan created several programs through their contract with the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Child and Family Services. Under his guidance, Harbor View became one of the leading providers of children’s services in Los Angeles County.
While improving the results of the client’s parents at the Center, Dan reflected on his experiences as a parent. His children themselves had special needs such as mental and intellectual challenges, and Dan knew the toll it takes on the parent. In order to help the child, the parent has to be healthy. From this concept, he created his parenting program. After years of refining it, teaching it to his staff at the Center, and then taking the results and comments from these efforts, he became the developer of the current PRAXES program. It is a culmination of Dan’s personal trials and tribulations as a parent along with empirical results and research of over 40 parenting programs.
Our vision at PRAXES is to advance the strength of parents and caregivers of children with special needs (mental health, intellectual, or physical) through education, support, and empowerment. Thus, they can live healthy and functional lives while caring for the child.
Apogee is a clinical decision software designed to help behavioral health practitioners with their treatment and patient engagement. It provides evidence-based and research-based components. Not only do they consist of elements from such practices as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Functional Behavior Analysis, but also the Intensive Models for Parents, Youth, and Children.
PRAXES has over 30 years of accreditation experience. We know what it takes to get your organization accredited. Whether it’s Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, our team can provide an evaluation of your current status and review the standards which need improvements. We will assist you with the policies, documentation, and training required to be accredited.
All Rights Reserved | Praxes