Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, Concentration in Drama Therapy
San Francisco, USA
DURATION
2 up to 3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Deadline for Drama Therapy: Submit by January 15th at 11:59pm PT for guaranteed review. After this date, the Drama Therapy program will consider applications only on a space available, first come/first serve basis until the program fills.
Key Summary
Scholarships
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Introduction
Utilizing theater arts to promote transformative growth and mental wellbeing
The Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy is a Board of Behavioral Sciences-approved program taught in entirely person. Coursework is progressive, incorporating theoretical, practical, and experiential formats. Small classes within a cohort model support personal development and offer a sense of kinship and community.
The program explores how dramatic processes work overtime to heal wounds for lasting change, and to help people reach their full potential. It integrates experiential, didactic, and clinical courses in a curriculum designed to train students to become personally and culturally attuned to become master drama therapists.
CIIS’ Drama Therapy program is accredited through the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA), and graduates to be eligible to pursue the RDT (Registered Drama Therapist) credential.
Admissions
Curriculum
During the first year, students develop a theoretical foundation, experience in-depth action-oriented courses, and engage in 45 hours of pre-practicum field study. During the second year, they begin clinical practicum while continuing to take required courses. The program concludes with an integrative seminar and capstone project, which is an opportunity to integrate accumulated learning with specific areas of personal academic interest. Students select one of the following capstone project options:
- Self-Revelatory Performance (performed in a theater)
- A quality research or theoretical paper designed for publication
- Therapeutic theater performance directed by the student
- Video documentary of clinical drama therapy work that the student has facilitated over time
Personal Therapy Requirement
Students are required to complete 50 hours of personal psychotherapy with a licensed mental health professional.
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Career Opportunities
The pedagogy of our Drama Therapy program provides graduates with unique marketability and a broad range of options for therapy practice:
- Clinical and organizational settings, working with children, adolescents, and adults throughout the lifecycle
- Community mental health and psychiatric programs
- Private practice
- Schools
- Clinics offering services for PTSD, eating disorders, domestic violence, substance abuse recovery, LGBTQ youth, etc.
- Prisons
Non-clinical settings:
- Consultants, facilitating action-oriented trainings on anti-racism, or as directors of Playback Theatre or Self-Revelatory Performances
- Supervisors or administrators at mental health facilities
- Faculty, researchers, or authors in academic domains