Chasing the sun: Discovering Chinese therapists’, students’ and educators’ proficiency in the use of dramatic reality

Abstract

In this clinical commentary, we present insights about introducing drama therapy in China. We highlight how challenging our own cultural assumptions regarding Chinese nationals, namely that they may feel restricted when entering dramatic reality, enabled the possibility of rich, detailed and ludic responses. Relying on our joint knowledge of drama therapy and a Chinese cultural context, with one from the United States and the other born in China, we designed a lecture and drama therapy process for Chinese nationals at a family communication conference in Beijing. We discovered diverse theatrical expression in our encounter with Chinese educators, therapists and students resulting largely from careful cultural preparation and an openness to experience.