The use of puppetry in dramatherapy to enhance communication, especially in children with an autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

This dissertation analyses the use of puppets in a therapeutic setting. It aims to analyse the ways in which puppets can be used to elicit communication in therapy, especially with children who have an autistic spectrum disorder. This analysis will be made by (1) defining autism and dramatherapy respectively in order to show how dramatherapy can be a beneficial form of therapy, (2) the various types of puppets are listed and the puppets most suitable for therapeutic purposes are discussed and (3) therapeutic puppetry will be further identified by using case studies to show how therapeutic puppetry can elicit communication. This dissertation also aims to bring about more awareness on dramatherapy on a national level.