All Things Drama Therapy and Burnout

Guest blog by Megan Rees, LPCC

So as you may know, many types of somatic therapy exist, including dance therapy, dynamic attachment repatterning, and many more. . .but have you ever heard of drama therapy? When I was studying dance therapy at Drexel University, I had the opportunity to learn from drama therapists in my practicum at an inpatient psychiatric hospital. I love the creativity and inspiration that can happen in a drama therapy session and how patients respond to it. I recently spoke with Megan Rees, who is a drama therapist and specializes in all things work stress and burnout here in California. She agreed to write a guest blog so read below to learn more about drama therapy and all the therapeutic offerings she provides!

What exactly is drama therapy and how can it help with burn out?

According to the North American Drama Therapy Association, “drama therapy is the intentional use of drama and/or theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals” but what does that actually mean? 

It’ll look different for different drama therapists, but for me, it means that I help my clients process the stories they tell themselves and the roles they play in their lives and how all of that impacts their relationships and keeps them stuck or burned out.

Burnout is a complex topic, but to keep it simple, some people experience it because they haven’t set great boundaries with their jobs or their managers; some people experience it because they’re not fully utilizing their gifts; for others, those gifts are being exploited at work. 

I like to help people reconnect with their values and vision for their lives so they can feel more empowered at work. Sometimes this might include roleplaying tough conversations. It might mean looking at patterns, or the roles a person seems to play in every job and how that impacts their wellbeing.

When is it a good idea to meet with a therapist who specializes in work stress and employee burnout?

I believe therapy can benefit anyone, even if everything seems OK in their lives, but it’s especially important to seek out therapy when you don’t feel like yourself or your normal day-to-day experience changes.

I’ve seen work stress impact people in a variety of ways:

Thoughts and Feelings

A bad dynamic at work can cause low self-esteem, a sense of failure, loss of motivation, and avoidance. It can make people feel helpless, overwhelmed, numb, moody, anxious, or irritable. People tend to worry about work even when they’re off. I had a client say to me that they knew something was wrong when at a holiday gathering they told their mom they’d been struggling at work but were afraid to tell her because they “didn’t want her to think I was a failure.”

Body

We hold stress in our bodies, and that can manifest as aches, pains, or changes in eating or sleeping. When people don’t get great sleep, that can impact focus, energy, mood, and memory. An interesting thing I’ve noticed is that many folks who experience work stress grind their teeth at night, waking with a new pain in their head, neck, and/or jaw.

Behavior

When we experience work stress we sometimes do things to try to make ourselves feel better, and sometimes those can make matters worse. I see people using alcohol, drugs, food, or distractions to cope. Sometimes this comes with an increase in spending money which can cause other problems. Sometimes people take it out on the people closest to them or isolate from friends and family and then they don’t get the social support they need. Sometimes, they avoid going to bed at a decent hour because they want to maximize time that belongs to them, and not getting enough sleep generally makes them feel worse.

Why did you choose to be a licensed professional clinical counselor and drama therapist in San Francisco?

I was born in San Francisco and raised in the East Bay, but I went to grad school for therapy in New York. I became a New York state Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and worked there for several years, before moving home to better weather, riper avocados, and my family.

What kind of treatments do you provide?

I offer in-person and virtual weekly therapy sessions.

Do you have a specific approach when working with clients?

My strength is being able to meet a client where they are, which means my approach is unique for each person. I spend time upfront getting to know clients, especially their strengths and their hopes and dreams. I like to help the people I work with shore up their supports and resources so that by the time we’re processing the hard stuff, they feel strong and ready. Clients are always amazed by how well I make them feel listened to and really seen.

How can drama therapy help with employee mental health? → What kind of work do you do in organizations?

I consult with leaders to increase psychological safety on teams. While I’m not able to provide therapy as a consultant, I do run anonymous assessments, facilitate conversations on teams, give workshops, and coach managers. The intention of all of this work is to help leaders create a culture where employees can feel safe to communicate their ideas and concerns and to learn from mistakes. The breakdown in psychological safety in workplaces is what creates mental health triggers for my therapy clients.

Is therapy helpful only when all other options for work stress and burnout have been exhausted? Or can these treatments be used alongside other solutions?

I’m never one to say that therapy is the only solution for people, but therapy can be especially helpful when people seem to end up in bad work situations again and again. There are often patterns within the person’s control that we can work on so they don’t keep repeating them.

What can a client expect to leave with after working with you?

After working with me, clients transform their relationship to work, even when they can’t leave their job. They have renewed purpose, stronger skills for coping with stress, better boundaries with difficult people, more joy, and they feel like their sense of personal power is restored. The results are a better time at work and more meaningful time away from work.

How long have you been working as a drama therapist and coach?

I’ve been providing drama therapy since 2006 and I coached my first client in 2008.

Who are your favorite types of clients to work with? 

I love working with clients who lean a little creative or neurospicy and they usually feel relieved and safe to be themselves in my presence. My style is playful and warm and I tend to help put shy, introverted, and socially anxious people at ease while also helping them exercise their ability to tolerate and even thrive in social interactions.

Are there any conditions that you specialize in treating?

Burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and phase of life challenges

What happens during a first appointment with you?

First appointments end up being a bit of administrative stuff and then a chance for us to start getting to know each other. The first several sessions are about building rapport and getting a clear picture of your strengths and what your goals will be for the next few months of working together.

What do you wish more people knew about therapy and work stress?

Sometimes when you’re in a toxic workplace, the leaders can gaslight you into thinking that you’re the problem. When this happens you may not think to get help or that you’re worthy of having that help. That’s when I most wish you’d seek out support from me!

How can people learn more and contact you?

If you live in California and think we might be a fit or know someone who might benefit from working with me, find out more on my website MeganLRees.com. I also coach all over the world. My coaching clients are people who are looking for the bravery to make a career change or to take back their energy and time for the things and people who matter most to them. Coaching differs from therapy in that we’ll focus on the present and the future but won’t process the past. California residents who work with me in therapy get the benefit of my therapy AND coaching skills!

What's one fun thing about you that most people don't know?

I once helped someone come back from a catatonic state on the floor of a New York City subway train after a traumatic event.