Dramatherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder

Nicky Morris is an HCPC registered dramatherapist and BADth member, who has worked in NHS and private mental health services for thirteen years, predominantly with women diagnosed with BPD.

This enriching practice based book focuses on a complex client group, who often struggle to obtain adequate treatment. The descriptions of the work are detailed, humane and knowledgeable, drawing on a range of dramatherapist experiences, whilst including the wider multidisciplinary team of professionals through feedback. Client stories are illustrated with poems, images, as well as directly elicited feedback. The diagnosis and treatment chapters offer nuanced information and changes over time about how clients are perceived, whilst recognizing the continuous effect of stigma. The dramatherapy sessions are described in clear detail in a variety of settings, so that the individuality of the clients shines through. It will be useful to see this book complemented by other arts therapies’ volumes. The current inclusion of music, art and movement within dramatherapy elicits questions about collaborative or medium specific interventions across the arts therapies; enabling further development of theory and research around the role of creativity in the treatment of BPD. Ditty Dokter PhD, UKCP registered groupanalytic psychotherapist and ADMPUK registered dance movement psychotherapist. This book brings alive the joys and pain of living and working with individuals suffering the impact of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder on their lives. Nicky Morris, through her skilled use of the techniques of Dramatherapy, is seen to be present, alongside patients and staff, in an emotionally available way to facilitate helpful changes to the lives of this ‘difficult to work with’ client group. She brings warmth, humanity, compassion and caring to all her working relationships, and to her writing. This book will be of significant help to both patients and professionals striving to work together towards ‘a life worth living’. Kevin Healy, Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director Cygnet Healthcare Ealing and Kenton This is a hopeful and refreshing book. It is honest and does not shy away from the complexity of client material, illustrating effectively how dramatherapy can change shape, pace and colour to enhance and develop the therapeutic process. Nicky Morris engages the reader through a skilled and compassionate lens. The book offers a solid account of the developments in BPD treatment and diagnosis and through highlighting the stigma BPD attracts goes some way to lessening it. The individual voice of the client jumps out of the page offering a rare insight from inside the therapy space. Dr Alyson Coleman, Chair of British Association of Dramatherapists

• Table of ContentsDramatherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder:Empowering and Nurturing people through Creativity(Author – Nicky Morris)Dramatherapy: Approaches, Relationships, Critical ideas(Series Editor - Anna Seymour) Title Dedication Acknowledgements Contents Foreword - Kate McCormack Part One: Definitions, History, Theory and Treatment OptionsChapter 1: Introduction Battling Stigma Personal Motivation Summary of Chapters ReferencesChapter 2: BPD: A Complex and Emotional Mental Health Disorder BPD Historic Overview Current Statistics Aetiology Diagnosis:BPD in the DSM VEUPD in the ICD.10Structured Clinical InterviewsDiagnosis in Adolescence Comorbidity Conclusion ReferencesChapter 3: Psychological Treatments for BPD IntroductionTreatment PathwayTreating Comorbidity Therapeutic Interventions:DBT - Dialectical Behaviour TherapyMBT - Mentalisation Based TherapyTherapeutic communitiesArts Therapies:DramatherapyArt TherapyMusic therapyDance Movement TherapyCBT - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy CAT - Cognitive Analytical TherapyST - Schema Therapy TFP - Transference Focused TherapyIGP – Interpersonal Group PsychotherapyOT - Occupational Therapy:OT for BPD, by Georgia Ntzimani Multidisciplinary Communication Final Reflections ReferencesChapter 4: Embrace and Contain the Chaos: Dramatherapy for BPD Dramatherapy: History and DefinitionAncient RootsTheatre meets TherapyDramatherapy in the Twentieth CenturyDefining Dramatherapy in the Twenty First Century Dramatherapy for BPDThirteen Dramatherapists share their experienceDramatherapy for Insecure Attachment and TraumaReclaiming Femininity through Ritual and MythDramatherapy for Men with BPDEvaluation and Evidence An OverviewPart Two: Dramatherapy Clinical Case Studies and VignettesChapter 5 Breaking Inner Chains: Dramatherapy on a Secure Ward for Women with BPD Dramatherapy for Women with BPD Five Recurring Themes:FreedomHopeTo be seen and heard as a human being, rather than a diagnosisBringing all parts of oneself – including the shadow – into the lightA new way to look at familiar emotions or issues Six Key Interventions:Releasing tension and repressed emotion via simple, effective methodsSymbolic Tools and Projective MethodsRitual, Story and MythSensory workPlayPoetry, Song and Creative Writing A Detailed Case Study illustrating the Six Interventions:Initial steps into Dramatherapy1:1 Trauma-Focused Dramatherapy Jean’s Dramatherapy journey in relation to Schema Therapy Perspectives from the Multi-Disciplinary Team on Dramatherapy The Client’s Voice ReferencesChapter 6A Cry for Freedom: Dramatherapy with Women in a Secure Step-Down Unit A Mixed Diagnosis Dramatherapy GroupSchizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder and Bipolar DisorderA Mother’s HeartacheA Service User with BPD Dramatherapy Group InterventionsAn Imaginary Train JourneyA Model Animal Community Therapeutic PerformanceSinging SwansSelf-Revelatory Performance Colleagues Reflect on Dramatherapy ReferencesChapter 7: Dancing Between Life and Death Dramatherapy and GriefLosing a BrotherA Father’s Suicide Self-harm, Suicide and Lost SoulsKitLornaChloeJane Emotional Impact on StaffSuicide and Self-HarmEmotional Projections and AmbivalenceDr Preeti Gour reflects on SuicideThe Role of Clinical Supervision Conclusion ReferencesChapter 8: Hope, Courage and Creativity Belief and Hope Courage and Meaning Survivors References Abbreviations Index