Creative Expression in Recovery - Puppet Dramas for Substance Abuse
by Mary Ann Shaughnessy
When the film begins art therapist, Mary Ann Shaughnessy, has already involved substance use clients in making all types of puppets which reflect the ingenuity and uniqueness of each client. As a result of their creative efforts, viewers meet a range of exuberant characters who enact some of the challenges and issues of early recovery. In the session following viewing a videotape of their production, they critique their own work and process feelings that were evoked.
When the film begins art therapist, Mary Ann Shaughnessy, has already involved substance use clients in making all types of puppets with a variety of art media, including paper mâché and cardboard, fabric, foam and wood. The puppets reflect the ingenuity and uniqueness of each client. They perform in front of expressive backdrop scenery the clients have drawn with various media. As a result of their creative efforts, viewers meet a range of exuberant characters who enact some of the challenges and issues of early recovery. The creativity of these cautionary dramas brings several tenets of recovery to life. The film contains 3 play-vignettes followed by a brief example of the post-production processing that Shaughnessy conducts with participants. In the session following viewing a videotape of their production, they critique their own work and process feelings that were evoked. The film shows diverse groups of adult men and women engaging playfully with the vicissitudes of their active addictions, and transitions to recovery both by choice and by mandate. The collaborative, spontaneous dramas use their colorful characters to predict consequences, and to plan paths to safety with humor, insight and candor.
In Depth
Specs
Bios
Disclosures
When the film begins art therapist, Mary Ann Shaughnessy, has already involved substance use clients in making all types of puppets which reflect the ingenuity and uniqueness of each client. As a result of their creative efforts, viewers meet a range of exuberant characters who enact some of the challenges and issues of early recovery. In the session following viewing a videotape of their production, they critique their own work and process feelings that were evoked.

In this video you'll learn:
  • how to use art therapy techniques, like puppet making and re-enacting psychodramas, can work for addiction and recovery clients
  • how to weave various themes-like denial, anger, guilt, etc.-into dramas about early recovery
  • how to articulate puppetry can enhance addiction treatment. 

Length of video: 01:04:52

English subtitles available

Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-766-4

Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-766-7



Mary Ann Shaughnessy was compensated for his/her/their contribution. None of his/her/their books or additional offerings are required for any of the Psychotherapy.net content. Should such materials be references, it is as an additional resource.

Psychotherapy.net defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. There is no minimum financial threshold; individuals must disclose all financial relationships, regardless of the amount, with ineligible companies. We ask that all contributors disclose any and all financial relationships they have with any ineligible companies whether the individual views them as relevant to the education or not.

Additionally, there is no commercial support for this activity. None of the planners or any employee at Psychotherapy.net who has worked on this educational activity has relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies.
This Disclosure Statement has been designed to meet accreditation standards; Psychotherapy.net does its best to mitigate potential conflicts of interest and eliminate bias in all areas of content. Experts are compensated for their contributions to our training videos; while some of them have published works, the purchase of additional materials are not required for any Psychotherapy.net training. Each experts’ specific disclosures can be found in their biography.

Psychotherapy.net offers trainings for cost but has no financial or other relationship to disclose. 
You May Also Like…