In January 2023 we launched Roundabout Reads, offering a peek into the current reads of some of our therapy team. These will be shared via our social media accounts each Monday and Thursday, then included here on our news page. We plan to include a wide range of content from books and articles that guide our teams’ dramatherapy practice, books that inspire, those we find comfort in reading or just make us smile.

The Book of Symbols by Taschen – Dramatherapists often have a book of symbols on their bookshelf which can support further exploration of archetypal images and symbols that arise within therapy sessions and the possible unconscious meanings associated with them for our clients.

The Adolescent Psyche by Richard Frankel : A really helpful resource that supported my training as a Dramatherapist and when working with young people.

The Body Keeps Score : Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk. A staple that I return to in helping me understand the brain and body’s response to trauma as well as evidence based treatment. This helped me when training too.

Matryoshkas in Therapy by Roger and Christine Day – Full of ideas and strategies to use these beautiful Russian dolls in the room. 

Dramatherapy and Autism Edited by Deborah Haythorne and Anna Seymour. I was lucky enough to go to the launch of this book while training as a Dramatherapist. A staple that I frequently return to that has supported my understanding of autism in different clinical contexts.

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook – What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz a must read for anyone working with traumatised children

Inside I’m Hurting: Practical Strategies for Supporting Children with Attachment Difficulties in Schools by Louise Bomber. A highly recommended book for schools. Implementing strategies that are helpful for children with attachment difficulties is often helpful for the wider school community.

The Inconsequential Child: Overcoming Emotional Neglect by Anthony Martino.  Through this personal and intimate memoir of one man’s journey overcoming childhood emotional neglect, I understand my childhood emotional neglect and those of my clients

The Primal Wound – Understanding the adopted child by Nancy Newton Verrier . A really helpful resource in understanding the experience of adoption 

Intercultural Dramatherapy  Imagination and action at the intersections of difference  by Ditty Dokter and Nisha Sajnani. Just received a copy of this newly published book, can’t wait to get reading.

Momma and the Meaning of Life – tales of psychotherapy by Irvin Yalom has provided much insight, entertainment, wisdom and solace regarding anyone who finds themselves working or drawn to work in an acute psychiatric setting (chapter 3 in particular). It’s a brilliant read! 

Being A Brain-Wise Therapist – A practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology by Bonnie Badenoch. This book is helpful in exploring attachment, trauma and the interpersonal neurobiology within this. A great resource to support a trauma informed therapeutic approach

Help for the Helper: The Psychophysiology of Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma by Babette Rothschil. Roundabout values the well-being of our team, as people and as professionals. Sometimes being a dramatherapist can ask a lot of us, and engaging in healthy self care practices and being aware of how to regularly support ourselves we can better avoid periods of professional stress. 

The Crone Initiation: Women Speak on the Menopause Journey a Girl God Anthology Edited by Kay Louise Aldred, Pat Daly, and Trista Hendren Getting inspired by other women give voice and expression to the feelings they are going through in this period of their life.   

Dramatherapy: Reflections and Praxis Edited by Richard Hougham and Bryn Jones. This book offers really brilliant and clear examples of Dramatherapy and Dramatherapists in Practice.