Research Colloquia

The research colloquia are open, quarterly events led by Anke Schäfer. Registration is required for participation. Please use the form below.

Note: The research colloquia in 2025 will no longer take place on Thursday evening, but on Wednesday evening!

Upcoming research colloquium:

Save the date

Wednesday (!),  4 June 2025 at 6.00 p.m. (Berlin time!):

„ The 8PSM – 8 Picture-Story-Making in Drama Therapy with traumatized children”

With:  Ravindra Ranasinha (Sri Lanka)

Biography:

Ravindra Ranasinh a is dramatherapist, researcher, prolific writer, and dedicated educator from Sri Lanka. He’s revolutionizing mental wellness and making significant contributions to mental health in Sri Lanka with unique methodologies like the Eight Part Story Method. He weaves together drama, Asian philosophy, and deep compassion to mend broken spirits.

The 8-Part Story Method (8PSM)

The 8-Part Story Method (8PSM), or Beehive Model, is a culturally adapted dramatherapy intervention developed in Sri Lanka by Ravindra Ranasinha. It integrates Buddhist philosophy with storytelling to address mental health challenges. 8PSM evolved from the 6PSM, emphasizing self-reflection and mindfulness as core aspects of Buddhist practice. A client-centered approach using metaphorical stories allows exploration of personal struggles within a safe, creative space. This process fosters self-awareness, develops coping mechanisms, and promotes personal growth. 8PSM is a novel contribution to the field of dramatherapy, offering a culturally responsive methodology.

To register use the form below

Feel welcome to have a look on the documentation of our past research colloquia

Research circles

1 Research Circle “We do Research! – Doing research!”
In this new working group we develop specific and practice-based ideas for possible research projects in daily drama therapy practice.
Informed by arts-based approaches, this group is supervised by Sabine Koch and Anke Schäfer when required. – First online meeting planned in February 2024. Take part, join us!

Contact: Björn Kaltwasser, info@bjoern-kaltwasser.de

2 Research Group ‘Climate Change & Drama Therapy’:

Climate change has enormous implications for people’s existential security, mental health and our psychosocial fields of work. In this workshop we will explore how this affects our understanding of drama therapy and our own therapeutic stance.
Contqct: Daniela Debald, debald@theatertherapie.org

Special research group on ritual research

Contakt: Ingrid Lutz, lutz@theatertherapie.org


If you have further suggestions for research circles, contact us. A working group should consist of about five people and meet quarterly. The findings that emerge at the meetings can be documented and be discussed in a special annual research circle colloquium.

Possible research circle topics could be (e.g.):

  1. Funding for drama therapy / “Theatertherapie” research projects
  2. What can research by non-academics look like?
  3. What could research tandems look like? Academics in exchange with practitioners

Please submit further suggestions: schaefer@theatertherapie.org

    Registration for the Research Colloquia

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