How Drama Therapy Helps Veterans Recover

TL;DR:

Dr. Tiffany Towers shares insights from her dissertation research on veterans and addiction, revealing how lack of reintegration training leaves veterans using substances to cope with trauma and isolation. Her research on drama therapy for veteran reintegration taught her to embrace unconventional approaches and helped shape Seasons’ philosophy of thinking outside the box while fostering genuine human connection in recovery.

About Dr. Tiffany Towers:

Dr. Tiffany Towers’ dissertation research represents the convergence of her academic training, creative background, and deep commitment to innovative therapeutic approaches. Her doctoral work at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology on drama therapy techniques for veteran reintegration emerged from her unique combination of clinical psychology training and extensive theatrical background from institutions like Yale School of Drama and New York Film Academy.

This research was particularly meaningful to Dr. Towers because it addressed a gap she recognized in traditional veteran care – the absence of structured reintegration support after military service. Her forensic psychology training helped her understand how untreated trauma can manifest in various behavioral and psychological symptoms, while her creative arts background provided her with tools for accessing healing that bypass traditional verbal processing methods.

The success of her drama therapy research fundamentally shaped Dr. Towers’ approach as Clinical Director at Seasons. It reinforced her belief that healing happens through connection, creativity, and authentic expression rather than just through traditional talk therapy alone. Her work with veterans taught her that the most effective interventions often come from understanding what people need to feel seen, understood, and purposeful – insights she now applies to all clients regardless of their background. This research experience also strengthened her commitment to individualized treatment that honors each person’s unique path to healing.

Video Transcript:

My dissertation research revealed something about veterans and addiction that really influenced my approach to treatment. Veterans are trained to cope with active duty and the role that they serve, and they endure so much as a result of it. But no one trains the veterans how to reintegrate back into civilian life. And so all that trauma that they endured becomes difficult to cope with, can feel very isolating, and they use their addictions in order to numb out the pain.

But my dissertation, it looked at unconventional ways to help veterans reintegrate safely back into civilian life through drama therapy. By incorporating drama therapy into veteran reintegration, it showed me that there can sometimes be unconventional ways to approach really difficult topics and to help veterans feel connected to other people and feel a purpose in their life.

So at Seasons, there’s two lessons that come from that. One is, don’t be afraid to think outside the box when you’re approaching recovery, as well as don’t be afraid to try to find new ways to connect with the people around you so that you can feel seen and understood, and others can feel seen and understood right back.

Please visit our website to learn more about how our individualized treatment program can address both addiction and underlying mental health issues.

Key Insights:

Dr. Towers identifies a critical gap in veteran care – extensive training for military service but no preparation for civilian reintegration. This insight reveals how institutional support systems can create dependency without teaching sustainable coping skills, a pattern that extends beyond military contexts.

Her research on drama therapy demonstrates how creative modalities can address healing needs that traditional approaches might miss. Drama therapy allows people to explore different aspects of themselves, practice new ways of being, and process experiences through embodied rather than purely cognitive methods.

The emphasis on feeling “seen and understood” identifies connection as fundamental to healing. Addiction often develops in isolation, and recovery requires rebuilding the capacity for authentic relationships and mutual recognition.

Her directive to “think outside the box” and “try to find new ways to connect” encourages both innovative therapeutic approaches and creative relationship-building, recognizing that conventional methods don’t work for everyone.

Reflection Questions:

• What transitions in your own life have you navigated without adequate preparation or support?
• How might creative or unconventional approaches help you process experiences that traditional methods haven’t fully addressed?
• What would it mean for you to feel truly “seen and understood” by others, and how might you offer that same recognition in return?

Related Topics:

This video addresses veteran reintegration challenges, trauma and addiction connections, creative therapy modalities, the importance of purpose and connection in recovery, and innovative approaches to traditional treatment challenges.