She rises from the flames, 

Shaking off the ashes of her past.

Her wings begin to beat,

Her voice returns,

A song of courage fills the air

and bravely she takes flight.

Away from the flames,

Towards the future,

Into the light

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Nicky Morris, 2018

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WHAT IS DRAMATHERAPY ?

 

Dramatherapy encourages individuals to express themselves without fear or shame. It is a unique form of therapy, inspired by all aspects of theatre, drama and the creative arts. It is therefore highly adaptable and can benefit a wide array of people, including children, adolescents and adults, both male and female, from different cultures and with varying degrees of emotional, mental and physical abilities.

 

Who Am I ?

 

I am Nicky Morris, an HCPC registered Dramatherapist      living in the UK and a full member of the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth)    . I have worked as a Dramatherapist, primarily in adult mental health, since graduating from Surrey University, Roehampton, in 2005. I remain passionate about my work and enjoy supporting my colleagues and providing educational workshops for students. 

 

I also love to write and I'm a published author, with two articles in BADth's Journal, which you can download for free via this website. In 2018, Routledge (Taylor & Francis) published my first book: Dramatherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: Empowering and Nurturing People through Creativity      and in 2020, Pavilion Publishing and Media published my second book: Find Your Way: A Story and Drama Resource for Mental Wellbeing in Young People    

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Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust 

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In November 2020, I was appointed as a Senior Mental Health Practitioner (Specialist Dramatherapist) in the MHST (Mental Health for Schools Team) with PALMS (Positive behaviour, Autism, Learning disability and Mental health Service).

 

PALMS work across the county providing a specialist multi-disciplinary approach to children and young people aged 0-19 who have a global learning disability and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder and their families. 

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PALMS are a family-led service working to understand and support the significant impact of challenges experienced by families of children and young people with learning disabilities and/or ASD. They work closely with children and young people, their families, colleagues and commissioners and view working closely as a key approach that underpins PALMS.

 

"We strive to focus on both prevention and intervention. We endeavour to help children and young people move towards attaining their ambitions and leading happy, healthy and fulfilled lives"  

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CYGNET HEALTH CARE

 

I began working for Cygnet Health Care in 2006, providing music-focused Dramatherapy sessions on a tier 4 secure ward for women diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). In 2009, I began to facilitate Dramatherapy groups  on another tier 4 secure ward for women with BPD and in a secure rehabilitation unit for women diagnosed with mood disorders, psychotic disorders and personality disorders. I later added art and writing focused Dramatherapy groups and therapeutic music sessions. In 2018, my work extended into a specialist eating disorder ward and continued across the three units until November 2020.

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SONG-WRITING WITH CLIENTS

 

Here are 3 original songs, written and recorded with several of my patients. During therapeutic music sessions, group song-writing can be a unique and uplifting experience.                     

 

BARNET, ENFIELD & HARINGEY MENTAL HEALTH NHS TRUST

 

For eight years, I worked for BEH-MHT NHS, primarily with older adults experiencing a range of both functional and organic mental health problems. Sadly, I left my post in 2013. 

 

Before training to be a Dramatherapist, I worked as a professional actress and musician, performing in small theatres across the country and in Europe.  Playing the role of Anne Frank and providing a voiceover for her in the documentary The Short Life of Anne Frank, was a highlight of this time.  Writing songs and poems, singing, playing the piano and ukulele, plus playing team sports, are the many activities I continue to enjoy.

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Contact me at