DRAMA therapy may not be a familiar concept to many people.
But to Melinda Alfred, who won the Miss Tobago Heritage Personality competition on July 21, it can be a virtual life saver in helping the troubled, depressed and others who may have experienced traumatic experiences.
Drama therapy is defined as the deliberate use of drama and theatre processes to achieve therapeutic objectives. Regarded as an embodied approach that is both active and experiential, drama therapy provides a forum for participants to tell their stories, set goals, solve problems and express feelings in a congenial, non-judgemental environment.
Come September, Alfred, 20, will begin studies in social work at UWI’s Mona campus in Jamaica. She intends to combine her love for the field with her passion for acting.
“I have decided that I want to merge social work and the performing arts, to help people work to overcome over trauma. I want to merge them to create something like drama therapy,” Alfred told WMN at Goodwood’s Yam Festival and Ole Time Market, which returned to the Tobago Heritage Festival on Tuesday after a six-year absence.
“Drama therapy is an innovative approach that offers holistic and creative platforms for healing and personal growth.”
She believes drama therapy will also enable teachers and others in the education sector to engage fully with students who learn differently.
[caption id="attachment_1028037" align="alignnone" width="729"] Melinda Alfred is hoping to use her platform as pageant title holder to help cultivate a greater appreciation for Tobago’s cultural heritage. - David Reid[/caption]
“It could help persons to identify those who are having challenges with the way we teach in schools as well as in detecting problems with students who may be perceived as rude, mischievous or have a low attention span.
“The creative space can help persons to be more relaxed and comfortable, helping them to communicate fully within their environment.”
The Signal Hill Secondary School alumnus is also hoping to raise awareness about the benefits of the performing arts in social work settings and to educate people about the potential of this approach in promoting healing and well-being.
In hindsight, Alfred told WMN she benefitted immensely from drama therapy some years ago. But little did she know then it would provide the emotional foundation she needed to enter the Miss Tobago Heritage Personality competition.
Growing up in Canaan, Alfred said she faced several challenges, which her cousin, Kimmi Potts, a technical production officer at the Tobago Festivals Commission and well-known cultural performer, enabled her to overcome.
“I live close to my cousin whom I look up to and she is very versed in the culture. She was and still is my role model who has taught me everything that I know and it is because of her that I have this love for culture.”
Alfred recalled while Potts was studying, she had organised a workshop as part of her course work in which she brought students in the community together to learn ab
