Drama Therapy

Founded in 1983, NYU Steinhardt’s Program in Drama Therapy offers world-class training with nationally recognized clinicians, researchers, and pioneers in the field who have shaped the practice of drama therapy through groundbreaking work in hospitals, schools, community organizations, and private practice. Students gain hands-on experience through fieldwork and internships with a wide range of organizations citywide, and have earned prestigious honors including the Global Studies Scholarship, Fulbright Scholarships, and the NADTA Diversity Award.

Every year, the program produces three therapeutic theatre productions, with additional opportunities for thesis performances and outside engagements—recently including the 2025 Met Gala.

Approved by the New York State Education Department, the program qualifies graduates for Licensure in Creative Arts Therapy (LCAT) in New York State after 1,500 hours of post-graduate supervised practice and licensing exams. Those seeking licensure outside New York should contact Program Administrator Ellen Smittle (ecs485@nyu.edu).

Develop Research Skills and Focus Your Studies on Drama Therapy

Deepen your understanding of drama therapy and become a competent researcher in the field. There are three options for doctoral study in drama therapy at NYU.

Doctor of Philosophy

Rehabilitation Sciences

Prepare for a fulfilling academic career in research and teaching in the rehabilitation sciences through interdisciplinary study across health fields.

Doctor of Philosophy

Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities

Conduct cutting-edge and innovative research that addresses the most pressing questions in the cultural and educational arenas of theatre.

Doctor of Education

Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities

Prepare for roles such as principal, curriculum developer, and policy analyst in this practice-based doctorate with an emphasis on arts-based research methods.

Adam Stevens Named Disruptor of the Year

Adam D-F. Stevens (MA ’18, Drama Therapy) has been named NYU Steinhardt's Disruptor of the Year as part of the inaugural cohort of Spirit of Steinhardt alumni award winners. Stevens is a Registered Drama Therapist and Board Certified Trainer who works with queer, people of color, and neurodivergent youth in transforming their loss, grief, and trauma into joy and empowerment.

Robert J. Landy Archive and Scholarship

Dr. Robert Landy, Ph.D., RDT-BCT, LCAT, founding Emeritus Professor of the NYU Program in Drama Therapy, has been a key figure in the development and widespread use of drama therapy for nearly four decades.