Dramatic Healing: The Evolution of a Trauma-Informed Musical Theatre Program for Incarcerated Girls

摘要

In juvenile justice settings, interventions intended to address the effects of trauma are unavailable to most youth. This article describes the evolution of an innovative program for incarcerated adolescent girls in which youth work collaboratively with theater professionals to create, develop, and perform musicals based on their experiences. The article also examines the links between trauma and incarceration through the voices of the girls, as they appear in participants' writing and lyrics. Finally, the article presents anecdotal evidence of the therapeutic benefits of the program and discusses implications for juvenile justice systems, psychotherapy with incarcerated adolescents, and trauma-focused intervention.