BADth Executive Directors Francesca McInally & Jack Horgan-Briggs attended the European Federation of Dramatherapy (EFD) and World Alliance of Dramatherapy (WADth) conference in Riga, Latvia. It was a vibrant gathering of dramatherapists from around the world—two days of learning, connection, and creative exploration.

A standout moment was the Emergency, EmergentSea, EmergeNsee workshop by the Emergent Play Institute, which invited participants to explore global and personal crises through movement, voice, and play—reminding us of dramatherapy’s power to hold complexity.

It was also inspiring to see UK dramatherapists sharing their work, including sessions on nature-based approaches in both children’s mental health and end-of-life care.

Following the conference, BADth joined the EFD Steering Group to reflect and plan future collaborations. For those unfamiliar, the EFD was born from a BADth conference in 2006 and continues to champion dramatherapy across Europe—supporting research, ethics, professional standards, and international exchange.

• Highlights of EFD’s current work include:
• A growing Dramatherapy Databank of literature
• A Case Study Project supporting first-time authors
• A new website and visual identity in development
• Ongoing work on professional standards and ethics

The EFD is split into several working groups.

Support Group

• The Rainbow Envelope Fund now dedicates 10% of EFD’s annual budget to help representatives attend Steering Group meetings in person.
• We're also supporting non-member countries to join as associates and work towards full EFD membership – including help with setting up national dramatherapy associations.

Scientific Group

• The Dramatherapy Databank is now live – a growing online library of dramatherapy literature. Explore it here
• Our Case Study Project, in partnership with the Dramatherapy Journal, offers mentoring and a free online course to help practitioners publish for the first time – diversifying the voices shaping our field.
• We continue to promote research through informal conversations about PhD opportunities and practice-based study.

Communication Group

• A new EFD website is underway – a central hub for members, updates and resources.
• Alongside this, we're developing a fresh

Professional Profile Group

• The EFD Standards of Professional Practice and Code of Ethics define the values and expectations for dramatherapists across Europe.
• We’re shaping a unified Professional Profile – showcasing our shared expertise and setting the foundation for professional standards.

Click here to visit the EFD website and find out more.

We’re proud to continue BADth’s legacy of international collaboration. If you’re curious about the EFD or have ideas to share, we’d love to hear from you.