According to her, the difference between a traditional, couch-loving therapist and an expressive arts therapist is the use of body and space in conversations. "The body speaks volumes and conventional therapy is restricted to the realm of words and verbal exchange. Trauma decapitates the ability to express emotion, and how it's sitting in your body. There's enough empirical, scientific research on how much trauma and information the body is carrying around. And, there isn't enough attention being paid, because of many reasons, one of them being that we are under-resourced."

As a drama therapist, she can borrow from other forms of therapy such as music, art and dance, as theatre borrows from them as well. "We play on the strengths of the client. If you are someone who is naturally inclined to music, I will not stray away from that. There's this example that another therapist, Parasuram Ramamurthy, used. In autism, one common feature is this hand flopping [on the forehead]. He said, 'Imagine this hand flopping as a rhythmic movement. What else requires repetitive rhythmic movement? Playing a drum.' He has seen three autistic people become percussionists because of that. So, it's a matter of perspective."

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Having said that, drama therapy isn't a rehearsal. The two differ in intention and process. "Drama therapy is more about the role, the narrative, the improvised self, the authentic self in that moment, and looking at that from other perspectives. A session could involve a little bit of embodiment or role-play or character development, but could also not have one element of what you'd find in a clichéd theatre rehearsal space. It could just have a piece of paper and a pencil or nothing. Just the body of the client and you unpack from there." Alongside private sessions, Banerjee also uses it to address self-care in group workshops. "Self-care is a necessity, not a luxury. It needs to be given a certain level of gravitas in this conversation, especially with the increasing prevalence of mental illnesses. And, drama therapy equips you to have a more mindful understanding of yourself and your needs."

Under the stage name of Doctor Drama, Banerjee uses Instagram posts and animated videos on YouTube to make drama therapy more accessible and comprehensible. "We offer do-it-yourself self-care activities. I see how busy life is, and the reasons why it's hard for people to maintain self-care. Drama in itself is a very immersive process. So, drama therapy uses elements of theatre to allow you to feel dis-inhibition, spontaneity and creativity." She's clear on what she wants to achieve. "[The goal of therapy] is to go on to leading a life independent of therapists."

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