Drama therapy workshop in Jeddah explores healing power of expression
JEDDAH: A drama therapy workshop was recently organized under the theme: 'In drama we find the power to express, and in expression we find the power to heal,' at Cinema Al-Balad in Jeddah.
Led by Lujain Faqerah, senior psychologist and creative arts supervisor, in collaboration with actor and screenwriter Abdul Al-Shareef, the workshop explored the use of drama therapy in daily life and creative work.
Participants, including therapists, creatives, and others, learned how drama can support emotional awareness, healing, and connection.
The workshop showed how drama-based therapeutic techniques can help people access unconscious behaviors, foster self-expression, and improve creative practices such as screenwriting and acting.
Faqerah told Arab News: 'Drama is integrated naturally in our daily responses and situations. In a therapeutic setting, it helps us observe these interactions and reflect on a deeper level of our unconscious body gestures and movements that might reveal a lot about our personalities.'
She made it clear that drama therapy is not about performing but about expressing what lies beneath — emotions, memories, or internal conflicts.
Faqerah said: 'The word drama has a negative connotation to the extent that people reject it before trying. Drama therapy does not depend on acting skills or previous experience, but more on your self-expression and the challenges you experience.'
Her discovery of drama therapy was transformative. 'It surprised me with the appearance of a hidden part of me that is more bold and confident. When this part emerged and I saw the benefits myself, I started incorporating it in my profession.'
Al-Shareef brought a creative perspective as an actor and screenwriter new to drama therapy but interested in its techniques.
'As an actor and a writer, I found this experiment with drama supervision and therapy fascinating. It's a tool that I am willing to explore and learn more about to enhance my life and practice,' he said.
'Some people may think drama therapy is exclusively for artists, but it's not. The techniques can be integrated into everyday routines, varying from person to person depending on their challenges.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
41 minutes ago
- Arab News
How Saudi child life specialists are supporting young patients
RIYADH: When a 9-year-old boy recovering from a kidney transplant refused to turn on the lights or speak to anyone, a child life specialist entered his room and comforted him by playing in the dark. Weeks later, she watched him take his first steps to recovery, both physically and emotionally. Raghad Al-Salamah, among the first Saudis to work in the child life field, said the genre plays an important role in preparing children and families for the experience of hospitalization. She told Arab News: 'The main focus of child life is helping families and children cope with their hospitalization and cope with their negative experiences.' Child life specialists provide support tailored to the child's age and emotional needs, aiming to reduce anxiety through preparation and play-based methods. Their work includes explaining medical procedures in ways children can understand while creating a more supportive environment in clinical settings. Al-Salamah said that, over time, the effect of child life services becomes visible in how children approach their treatment. She said: 'I see the impact during hospitalization: I see that in their eyes, I see how they are, how excited they are I'm here, and how they are coping with their illness … And how they are taking their medication, going through their procedure. 'Sometimes they are doing some procedure with no sedation. So, I really see the impact in the eyes of children and their families.' Al-Salamah added that some families and healthcare providers still confused the role of child life specialists with other professions in the hospital. She added: 'Some of the families, and healthcare providers, don't understand what child life is and what it's doing, so they always mix us up with a play therapist or with a social worker or even with a psychologist.' She explained how specialists work to educate children about the treatment they will receive, helping them cope with any difficulties. A study titled 'Reducing Anesthesia and Healthcare Cost Through Utilization of Child Life Specialists in Pediatric Radiation Oncology' found that the presence of certified child life specialists reduced the need for anesthesia by 16 percent among children undergoing radiotherapy. Another study, 'Benefits of a Family-Centered Approach to Pediatric Induction of Anesthesia,' found that when a family-centered model including child life specialists was used, the need for sedation before procedures dropped from 41 percent to 13 percent. Al-Salamah said she was drawn to the field to prioritize children's experience in healthcare, adding: 'I always was concerned, and had questions regarding the child who had the diagnosis and would live his life with the diagnosis. 'I was always focusing on educating the children and preparing them for their diagnosis and what they would be going through while they were here in the hospital.' Expanding the role of child life specialists, Al-Salamah said, could strengthen the overall hospital experience for patients and healthcare teams. 'Most hospitals need to begin integrating child life specialists into their programs,' she said. 'It has an impact not only on the children, but also on their families and the healthcare teams. It helps everyone in the hospital.' While child life remains relatively new in Saudi Arabia, the field is gradually being integrated into pediatric care. Fadi Munshi, executive director of Abdulrahman's Oasis, the child life foundation in the Kingdom, said that at the early stages of implementation, many people, including healthcare staff, were unfamiliar with its role. Munshi told Arab News: 'We had to raise awareness and explain how emotional and psychological safety support can make a big difference in a child's healing.' Munshi said the response from institutions had been encouraging, and added: 'Today, two main hospitals have child life teams, and staff often say they cannot imagine going back. Doctors, nurses and families all notice how children are more relaxed and cooperative during procedures. 'Their experience during the hospital stay is more positive, which eventually helps everyone in the healthcare system.' He said some hospitals had already made significant progress in implementing these services, while others were continuing to build awareness and training capacity. 'We hope that every hospital in the future (can have these services) and this is one of our main goals: that every single child in Saudi Arabia in every hospital can have this care in the future,' Munshi said. He added that many families had reported improvements in how their children handled their treatment, and said: 'Families often tell us their child is less afraid, more comfortable. They ask specifically for the child life team to be present during some stressful painful procedures.' Fahd Al-Thunayan, the chairman of Abdulrahman's Oasis, said child life services played a vital role in improving hospital environments for young patients. He told Arab News: 'Everyone knows the fear and anxiety that comes with entering a hospital — how much more (is it) for a child who doesn't understand many things?' Child life specialists help create a more humane treatment environment, he said, using various methods to ease pain and provide emotional support. He added: 'The result is a child who is more comfortable, cooperative and less stressed, which reflects positively on faster recovery and better quality of life in the hospital.' Al-Thunayan said the foundation continues to support efforts aimed at expanding access to the services across the Kingdom, and added: 'We aspire for every hospitalized child to have access to child life specialists who support them psychologically and socially, just as they are treated physically.'
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Theater and film experts Fatima Al-Banawi, Lana Komsany lend expertise to Saudi summer camp
DUBAI: Saudi filmmaker Fatima Al-Banawi is set to take part in a two week summer program for children in Jeddah hosted by Alf Wad Productions. The two programs aimed at children are titled 'Little Theater Stars Camp' and 'Camp Journey to the World of Cinema.' The programs run for two weeks. The schedule focuses on teaching theatrical experiences by allowing children to write a play inspired by their ideas. In addition to writing a script, the participants will design the costumes and help in building the set for the production. From lighting to sound and storytelling, the program will offer a holistic understanding of what it takes to bring a theater production to life. Led by instructor Lana Komsany and supervised by Al-Banawi, the programs will conclude with a performance in front of a live audience. A post shared by Alf Wad | ألفُ وادٍ (@alfwadproductions) Al-Banawi is recognized for her roles in 'Barakah Meets Barakah' and the Saudi thriller 'Route 10.' She made her directorial debut with 'Basma,' in which she also plays the titular role of a young Saudi woman who returns to her hometown of Jeddah after studying in the US. Back home, she is confronted with her father's mental illness, strained family ties, and the challenge of reconnecting with a past life that no longer feels familiar. 'I really went into cinema — in 2015 with my first feature as an actress — with one intention: to bridge the gap between the arts and social impact and psychology,' she previously told Arab News. 'And I was able to come closer to this union when I positioned myself as a writer-director, more so than as an actor.' The film debuted on Netflix in 2024. Meanwhile, Qamsani specializes in film and theater, with extensive experience in directing, acting, and writing, and is known for her work in creative training. Alfwad Productions is a Saudi Arabia-based creative arts organization focused on nurturing young talent through performance, storytelling, and cultural education. The organization runs year-round programs that blend theater, music, and visual arts.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Theater and film experts Fatima Al-Banawi, Lana Komsany lends expertise to Saudi summer camp
DUBAI: Saudi filmmaker Fatima Al-Banawi is set to take part in a two week summer program for children in Jeddah hosted by Alf Wad Productions. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ The two programs aimed at children are titled 'Little Theater Stars Camp' and 'Camp Journey to the World of Cinema.' The programs run for two weeks. The schedule focuses on teaching theatrical experiences by allowing children to write a play inspired by their ideas. In addition to writing a script, the participants will design the costumes and help in building the set for the production. From lighting to sound and storytelling, the program will offer a holistic understanding of what it takes to bring a theater production to life. Led by instructor Lana Komsany and supervised by Al-Banawi, the programs will conclude with a performance in front of a live audience. A post shared by Alf Wad | ألفُ وادٍ (@alfwadproductions) Al-Banawi is recognized for her roles in 'Barakah Meets Barakah' and the Saudi thriller 'Route 10.' She made her directorial debut with 'Basma,' in which she also plays the titular role of a young Saudi woman who returns to her hometown of Jeddah after studying in the US. Back home, she is confronted with her father's mental illness, strained family ties, and the challenge of reconnecting with a past life that no longer feels familiar. 'I really went into cinema — in 2015 with my first feature as an actress — with one intention: to bridge the gap between the arts and social impact and psychology,' she previously told Arab News. 'And I was able to come closer to this union when I positioned myself as a writer-director, more so than as an actor.' The film debuted on Netflix in 2024. Meanwhile, Qamsani specializes in film and theater, with extensive experience in directing, acting, and writing, and is known for her work in creative training. Alfwad Productions is a Saudi Arabia-based creative arts organization focused on nurturing young talent through performance, storytelling, and cultural education. The organization runs year-round programs that blend theater, music, and visual arts.
