Description

In her therapy practice, Stefanie Stolinsky found herself frustrated by the limited ability of traditional techniques to help adult survivors of childhood abuse uncover deeper emotional patterns. A former actress, she recalled the kinds of acting exercises that she had learned in drama classes. By drawing on techniques that actors use to unblock their emotions in order to play dramatic roles, she discovered that she was able to encourage her adult clients to uncover buried feelings, remember painful experiences, and begin to deal more directly with the symptoms of earlier traumas.

In Act It Out, these exercises are presented in the form of a series of safe, simple, and creative exercises. Although similar to more familiar psychodrama techniques, where scenes are controlled by a therapist or group leader, Stolinsky's exercises are unique in that they allow readers to open up slowly, at their own pace, and so retain control over exactly how much they want to remember, without becoming overwhelmed or frightened. Because the survivor is in charge, these exercises can safely be done alone or in a group setting and with or without a therapist's assistance.

About the Author

Stefanie A. Stolinsky, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist who has a private practice in Beverly Hills. She has concentrated her practice on individual, group, and couple therapy addressing acute stress disorders where clients have experienced out-of-the-ordinary stressors such as bank robberies, violence, domestic, and work upheaval, as well as sexual and physical child abuse. She also treats private patients with depression, relationship, trauma, and abuse issues. Stolinsky began her career as an actress on stage, in numerous television series, and in film. In her practice she combines drama, acting, and performing with a unique style of psychotherapy.