When people hear the word psychodrama, they often think of something intense or theatrical. Maybe it sounds a little scary or even overwhelming—especially if you’re someone healing from trauma. But psychodrama isn’t about performance. It’s about expression, connection, and deep healing—often in ways that words alone can’t reach.

As a trauma therapist, I use psychodrama because it helps people safely explore their experiences, emotions, and relationships through action. It’s not about acting in front of others. It’s about stepping into parts of your story in a supported, guided way so that you can process things that might still be stuck inside.

Psychodrama is a type of therapy that allows you to explore your inner world by playing out scenes. Sometimes, that means having a conversation with someone you have unfinished business with. Other times, it’s about stepping into your own shoes at a younger age to offer care or understanding you didn’t receive back then.

It can sound unusual, but it’s often much more gentle and intuitive than people expect.

One of the most well-known tools in psychodrama is the empty chair exercise. And I’d love to share a story (with permission and details changed for privacy) to show you just how meaningful this can be.

A client I’ll call Maria came to therapy feeling lost and overwhelmed after a deep betrayal in her life. She carried a heavy sense of pain and confusion, and one of the biggest wounds was her feeling that God had abandoned her.

During one session, I invited Maria to try something different: an empty chair exercise. I asked her to imagine that God was sitting in the chair across from her, and to speak to Him honestly. At first, she hesitated. “This feels weird,” she said. Totally fair. Most people feel that way at first. But slowly, Maria began to speak.

She told God she was angry. That she felt forgotten. That she had begged for help and heard silence. Her voice cracked as years of held-back emotions began to pour out.

Then, after a long pause, I gently asked if she’d like to switch chairs and imagine what God might say in return. Again, she hesitated. Then moved.

As she sat in the other chair, something shifted. Her voice softened. “I never left you,” she said, now speaking as God. “I was there in the people who showed up. I was there in your strength to keep going. I know you’re tired. I’m not angry at you.”

By the end of the session, Maria was crying—not from pain, but from relief. “I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that,” she whispered. “I feel like I can breathe again.”

Psychodrama lets the body and imagination do some of the work that talking can’t always reach. For trauma survivors, it’s especially powerful because trauma is often stored in the body, not just the mind. Using movement, space, and role-play gently helps people reconnect with themselves—and with parts of their story that still need healing.

It’s not magic. But it can feel pretty close when a person experiences a breakthrough they’ve been waiting on for years.

If you’re curious but unsure, that’s okay. You don’t have to be theatrical, loud, or even particularly open to begin. All you need is a willingness to explore—at your own pace, in a safe and caring space. We’ll move slowly, and we’ll always go at a speed that feels right for you.

Psychodrama isn’t about putting on a show. It’s about showing up—for yourself. And sometimes, that’s where the deepest healing begins.

Interested in trying psychodrama in therapy? I’d love to walk with you through it. You don’t have to do it alone. Reach out if you have questions or want to talk about what this could look like for you.

By: Cara Harbaugh, LCSW