Ulla Halkola &
Tarja Koffert
PHOTO AS A STEP
TO DRAMA
Barcelona 2004
EU Joint Actions
EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-
GENERAL
EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
SOCRATES,
LEONARDO AND
YOUTH
PROGRAMMES

Photo as a Step to Drama
Psychotherapists Ulla Halkola and Tarja Koffert elaborated

their method ”Photo as a Step to drama” for Drama Way project.
This method combins different approaches of phototherapy

and participatory drama.
The aim of the method is to help the participants to increase their self

understanding, to create alternative means for analyzing their lives and
to create positive visions for their future.
The method is an interactive forum; characteristic to this forum is

sincerity, experience orientation and sociality.

Photos in therapy and education
 The aim of phototherapy is to use photos and photographing to
enhance the person's self awareness, to support the personal growth
and psychical harmony and to help the person to get through the crisis
in life. By using photos in therapy it is possible to reach such matters
that can not be reached with words, and also to enliven memory and to
create alternative means for analyzing life.
 Methods of the phototherapy include viewing biographical photos,
viewing associative and symbolic photos and taking new photos.
 These methods may be widely applied in individual and group work
sessions depending on the aims of the educational or therapeutic
session or the needs of the participants.

Photo as a Step to Drama
Description of the Process

Everyone chooses one photo

There are two groups discussing
about their photos and stories

Both of the groups choose one photo
and creates a story based on the photo

From storytelling to drama presentation
Group 1

From storytelling to drama presentation
Group 2

Discussion about the dramas and
groupdynamics

Evaluation with pictures
Everyone choses one symbolic picture for evaluation

Workshop participants together
- evaluation and sharing

Literature and information
Weiser Judy: Photo Therapy Techniques

- Exploring the Secrets of Personal Snapshots and Albums.
USA 1999
www.phototherapy-centre.com

www.valokuvaterapiayhdistys.net
