Renee Emunah

Renée Emunah is a Professor and Program Chair in Drama Therapy at the School of Professional Psychology and Health, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). She is a pioneering figure in drama therapy, founding the Drama Therapy Program at CIIS and originating the Integrative Five Phase model and Self-Revelatory Performance. Her work focuses on emotional intelligence, group therapy, and clinical interventions with adolescents and adults.

Educations:

• PhD, Union Institute and University
• MA, San Francisco State University

Research Interests:
Renée's work bridges clinical practice and artistic expression. She explores process-oriented group drama therapy to address emotional disturbances, and develops Self-Revelatory Performance as a therapeutic theatre form. Her clinical innovations include community theatre programs for ex-psychiatric patients, recognized by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She emphasizes drama therapy's role in emotional intelligence development across age groups.

Awards:

• Gertrud Schattner Award (lifetime achievement in drama therapy)
• 2019 Teaching Excellence Award

Leadership & Contributions:
As former President of the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA), she shaped professional standards. She edits the Drama Therapy Journal and has authored foundational texts like Acting for Real (Routledge, 1994/2020). Her international workshops and trainings propagate her Five Phase model as a core drama therapy framework.

Program Initiatives:
Founded a community theatre program for psychiatric patients, blending clinical care with expressive arts. Currently oversees CIIS's Drama Therapy Program, training new practitioners through advanced seminars and clinical technique courses.