Hod Orkibi

Therapeutic Factors in Drama Therapy: From Imagining to Realizing

Whereas mounting empirical evidence suggests that drama therapy has a positive impact on various populations and a range of outcomes, few studies have examined how and why drama therapy leads to therapeutic change. Based on findings from an international scoping review, this presentation will highlight the change factors specific to drama therapy as well as generic common factors across psychotherapies. The audience will be invited to reflect on their own theory of change in their practice and training.  Avenues for further implementation and research development will be suggested.  

Hod Orkibi, PhD, is a certified psychodrama therapist and Associate Professor (tenured) at the School of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Israel. Hod is currently the Chair of the Doctoral Program Committee and is the Director of the Drama & Health Science Lab. He is also an adjunct professor at NYU’s drama therapy program. His research areas include psychodrama and drama therapy processes and outcomes, arts-based community rehabilitation, creativity and wellbeing, and systematic reviews. Hod has secured funding for several competitive grants, has over 75 scientific publications, and has presented his work at numerous international conferences.  He is currently Associate Editor for the APA Division 10 journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, and is on the editorial board of several peer-reviewed journals. Hod is an active member of the research committee of the Federation of European Psychodrama Training Organizations, and represents the Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts (Division 10) at the American Psychological Association’s Council of Representatives.