Drama therapy interventions at summer camp: Case illustrations from a multi-tiered wellness program

Youth mental health needs extend beyond traditional clinical and school settings. Summer camps can offer responsive, relationship-based environments for emotional support; however, descriptions of such mental health interventions within this setting are currently lacking. To address this gap and advance a theory-based conceptualization of tailored approaches for summer camp, this article discusses the Wellness Program, a multi-tiered drama therapy-informed model delivering brief, developmentally attuned interventions for campers and staff at a large Jewish overnight summer camp in the Midwestern United States. Case illustrations analysed through drama therapy core processes demonstrate how techniques like role-play, embodiment and dramatic projection addressed anxiety, homesickness and acute distress, highlighting the clinical potential of drama therapy in camp-based mental health care.