Dramatherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder

by Nicky Morris

Dramatherapy for Borderline Personality Empowering and Nurturing People Through Creativity demonstrates how dramatherapy can empower those individuals struggling to live with borderline personality disorder, and help them embrace and control the emotional inner chaos they experience. Based on current research into the aetiology, symptoms and co-morbid disorders associated with BPD (and emotionally unstable personality disorder), this book demonstrates the effectiveness of dramatherapy for individuals and groups on specialist personality disorder wards and in mixed diagnosis rehabilitation units. It also reveals a creative approach for making dramatherapy work in harmony with approaches such as dialectical behaviour therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy. Aimed at those working with service users, and utilising a range of case studies and clinical vignettes, Dramatherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder provides an insight into the potential of dramatherapy, which will be welcomed by mental health professionals.

174 pages, Hardcover

Published May 29, 2018

About the author

Encouraging creativity in the face of adversity: through drama, music, art and creative writing.

Nicky Morris was born in London in 1976. She is married and has two teenage daughters. She's an HCPC registered Dramatherapist and her professional work is enhanced by a love of music, singing, art and creative writing.

Nicky originally worked as a professional actress and musician, touring theatres across the UK and Europe. The first and last role she played was Anne Frank.

Nicky then trained to be a Dramatherapist and for the last 15 years, she has worked in a range of mental health services for the NHS and in specialist services commissioned NHS England. Her two books are inspired by this work.

Reviews

[Miss Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have worked for many years on a specialist ward for women diagnosed with BPD. I bought this book to gain a new perspective on working with the client group. Specifically, as I have seen first hand how drama therapy has complemented and enhanced standard therapy for BPD, and many times reached this client group in a way other therapies struggle to do.

Part 1 was very informative from an academic, clinical viewpoint. It details the origins of the BPD diagnosis and describes the various therapy models now used to support people. It also revealed how dramatherapy can work in harmony with DBT (dialectical behavioural therapy).

I particularly enjoyed Part 2 however, which is full of interesting case vignettes, poems and art work created by service users and specific examples of how to use dramatherapy and creativity to support people with this diagnosis.

The author is clearly passionate & skilled with a client group which is often viewed as difficult to treat. I would recommend this book to any professional working with BPD, as well as individuals with this diagnosis & their families.

[Ell Melvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically informative - a focused detailed explorative book which I'd recommend to all interested, particularly those working with BPD, or with lived experience of BPD.
The first section clearly details BPD and the therapeutic methods used with those with a BPD diagnosis, and specifically within dramatherapy.
The second section really offers a window into dramatherapy sessions and the amazing supportive work the author has done with individuals with BPD.

[Thalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant, great balance of theory and case