Lisa’s baby: Dramaturgical aspects of therapeutic puppetry

Abstract

This article discusses my work as a therapeutic puppeteer in youth welfare contexts. The value of the projective material and symbols of puppetry are well known; I focus on puppetry for its dramatic content. The therapist is like a dramaturge: s/he responds to the setting, is proficient in understanding the impact of the work and is aware of empathy. I use a theatrical perspective and then return to the therapeutic effects, suggesting that to create and materialize a personal narrative has special therapeutic advantages.