Psychotherapeutic Playback Theatre, Well-Being, and Psychological Distress: An Impact Study

António-José Gonzalez (), Margarida Pedroso de Lima, Luís Preto and Paulo Martins
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António-José Gonzalez: AppsyCI, Ispa, University Institute, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1140-041 Lisboa, Portugal
Margarida Pedroso de Lima: CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Luís Preto: AppsyCI, Ispa, University Institute, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1140-041 Lisboa, Portugal
Paulo Martins: Laboratory of Sport Psychology, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa, 1499-688 Cruz-Quebrada, Portugal

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Psychotherapeutic Playback Theatre (PPT) is a new psychotherapeutic format inspired by Playback Theatre and several therapies. The research presented here aims to study the impact of PPT on the Well-being and Psychological Distress of participants in this expressive-based group psychotherapy. To achieve this, after training 30 psychotherapists and creating an implementation handbook for their use, the research team assisted 20 of them (individually or in groups of two or three) in implementing therapeutic groups that offered 12 weekly sessions, each lasting two to three hours. Nine groups were formed, including a total of 50 participants, who were assessed before and after the PPT program using questionnaires evaluating Psychological Distress and Well-being. The latter consisted of six subscales: Autonomy, Environmental Mastery, Personal Growth, Positive Relations with Others, Purpose in Life, and Self-Acceptance. A control group of 50 participants was assessed using the same variables. No significant differences were found between pre- and post-tests in the control group. However, significant differences were observed in the PPT group, with Psychological Distress decreasing and Well-being improving, both on the total scale and across all subscales except for Self-Acceptance. This set of results allows us to establish connections between participation in the PPT sessions and the positive psycho-emotional effects on participants.

Keywords: Psychotherapeutic Playback Theatre; creative arts therapies; group therapy; well-being; psychological distress; therapeutic impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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