Dr. Ravindra Ranasinha and the Academy of Care, Myanmar

Dr. Ravindra Ranasinha is a Sri Lankan Drama Therapist, researcher, trainer, and author who has played a significant role in introducing trauma-informed Drama Therapy to mental health practitioners in Myanmar through the Academy of Care (AoC) initiative of the Goethe-Institut Myanmar.

As an international facilitator and trainer, Dr. Ranasinha contributed to the Academy of Care’s mission of strengthening psychosocial support services in Myanmar by equipping mental health professionals with creative and culturally responsive therapeutic approaches. Through intensive training programmes, he introduced participants to the theory and practice of Drama Therapy, trauma-informed care, embodiment, storytelling, role work, mindfulness, and creative methods of fostering resilience and healing.

Working with a diverse group of counsellors, social workers, community health workers, and medical practitioners, Dr. Ranasinha helped participants explore how Drama Therapy could be adapted to Myanmar’s unique cultural and social realities. His training emphasised experiential learning, self-reflection, cultural sensitivity, and the use of creative processes to support individuals and communities affected by trauma, conflict, displacement, and social adversity.

The impact of this work has been documented through scholarly research. Dr. Ranasinha conducted and published research examining the effectiveness of trauma-informed Drama Therapy training among mental health practitioners in Myanmar. His studies explored how practitioners integrated creative therapeutic methods into their professional practice and how Drama Therapy contributed to personal growth, resilience, self-awareness, and community healing. The findings demonstrated the potential of culturally adapted Drama Therapy as an innovative approach to addressing mental health challenges in contexts affected by conflict and collective trauma.

In addition, Dr. Ranasinha’s research has highlighted the importance of integrating mindfulness, local cultural resources, and creative arts therapies within mental health interventions. His publications have contributed to the growing international literature on Drama Therapy and trauma-informed practice in Southeast Asia.

Drawing upon over twenty-five years of experience in Drama Therapy, community healing, and psychosocial intervention across Sri Lanka and beyond, Dr. Ranasinha brought a unique blend of Asian wisdom traditions, trauma-informed practice, and creative therapeutic methodologies to the Academy of Care. His contribution has helped foster a growing network of practitioners committed to promoting healing, resilience, and community well-being throughout Myanmar.

Through his collaboration with the Academy of Care, Dr. Ranasinha continues to advance the use of Drama Therapy as a powerful tool for personal transformation, social connection, and collective healing in culturally diverse contexts.

Publications Related to Myanmar

1. Ranasinha, Ravindra, Exploring the Impact of Trauma-Informed Dramatherapy Training on Mental Health Practitioners in Myanmar: Perspectives on Integration, Effectiveness, and Cultural Adaptation (January 31, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5139107 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5139107
2. Ravindra Ranasinha PhD, Agnes Seng Sam, Yee Yee Mon, Aung Aung Naing, Aye Myat Mon, Aye Thanda Maung, Ei Lawm Nap, Hkawn Ja, Khaing Kyi Kyi Khaing, Khin Thuzar Aung, May Myat Mon, Mie Mie Han, Phyoe Thet Htet Oo, Thin Hnin Aye, Win Lae Yee Win, Ze Naw (2026). Exploring Community Catharsis and Embodied Healing in Burmese Nat Pwe: Culturally Sensitive Pathways for Modern Dramatherapy Practice. , 9(12), https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91200222.

These publications document the experiences of Myanmar mental health practitioners and provide evidence for the effectiveness of Drama Therapy as a culturally responsive approach to trauma recovery and psychosocial support.

Watch this video – Creative Therapy as a Response to Trauma in Myanmar

https://www.goethe.de/ins/mm/en/kul/sup/aoc.html#accordion_toggle_26412522_4