When we think of healing, many of us imagine silence, solitude, or perhaps traditional therapy in a quiet office. But what if healing looked more like play? What if laughter, tears, storytelling, and improvisation became pathways to wholeness?
This week on The Empress Addi Podcast, I had the honor of speaking with Michelle Moreno-Foster, MS, RDT, CPT—a registered drama therapist, performer, and healer in Miami whose work embodies this truth: art is medicine. Through her private practice, her partnership with the Adrienne Arsht Center, and her co-founding of Drama Therapists United (DTU), Michelle brings creative arts therapy to communities that might otherwise never have access.
Her mission is bold yet simple: healing should be free, accessible, and rooted in community.
Why Play Heals
Play is often dismissed as childish, yet neuroscience tells us otherwise. Studies show that play reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), increases dopamine (our natural motivator), and strengthens our ability to process trauma stored in the body. For many, traditional talk therapy is not enough. Drama therapy uses role-play, improvisation, and storytelling to access places words alone cannot reach.
Michelle shared stories of clients who found their voices by embodying a character, re-enacting a moment, or simply allowing laughter to flow. These breakthroughs remind us: play is not frivolous. Play is survival.
Trauma, Art, and Transformation
Trauma lives not only in memory but in the body. Unaddressed, it shapes how we breathe, speak, and connect. Michelle’s trauma-informed approach demonstrates that art can reach the silences trauma leaves behind.
Her work confirms what cultures around the world have always known: drumming, dancing, and singing are not mere performances; they are medicine. From church benches, sacred ceremonies to Indigenous rituals, art has been a collective balm for generations. Drama therapy continues that lineage in modern spaces.
Healing Together: Collective Care
What struck me most is Michelle’s belief that healing is not just individual—it is communal. Through DTU, she and her co-founders make drama therapy accessible free of charge, thanks to grants and partnerships. This equity matters deeply. For too long, marginalized communities have been told that therapy is a luxury. DTU proves it is a human right.
Imagine what happens when entire communities reclaim storytelling as a tool of resilience. Trauma is not erased, but it is transformed—and no one has to heal alone.
Laughter as Liberation
Michelle’s background in improv and comedy reminded us that healing does not have to be heavy. Sometimes, laughter does the work tears cannot. Science affirms this too—laughter lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, and builds bonds between people.
To laugh in the face of trauma is not denial; it is resistance. It is choosing life, joy, and authenticity even in the shadow of grief.
A Practice for You
If you are reading this and wondering, Where do I begin?, here is a simple exercise Michelle inspired:
✨ Story in Motion Exercise
- Think of a story from your life that feels heavy or unresolved.
- Instead of writing it down, act it out—alone or with a trusted friend. Be the narrator, the character, or even the bystander.
- Afterward, pause. Did you feel silly? What shifted? Did your body release something your mind had been holding?
Try it. Sometimes the body knows before the brain catches up.
In Gratitude
Michelle Moreno-Foster’s work is a living testament to resilience, creativity, and community. In South Florida and beyond, she is proving that healing through play is possible—and powerful.
As I reflect on our conversation, I am reminded of this truth: honoring ourselves through expression is a form of ancestral reverence. We heal not just for ourselves, but for those who came before and those who will come after.
To Michelle—I honor your vision, your craft, and your service.
Resources & Next Steps
- 🎭 Learn more about Drama Therapists United (DTU) and their mission to democratize access to healing through play.
- 🪞 Try the Story in Motion exercise and journal what comes up.
- 📚 For deeper guidance on aligning your own voice and purpose, grab my book: What’s Next For You: Living in Purpose—A Practical Guide to Aligning Your Passion with Prosperity → Amazon link
- 🎙️ Subscribe to The Empress Addi Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Amazon Music for more conversations that blend soul, story, and strategy.
- Image Used: https://www.playtherapy.gr/en/drama-therapy/
✨ Your healing is not linear. But through play, art, and community—you can remember who you are, and rise again.
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