Alexis Poledouris

Hello and welcome! I am a Drama Therapist based in Los Angeles with an extensive background as a director and teaching artist. My practice brings the potentially transformational power of improvisation and spontaneity - those two pillars of drama therapy - to therapeutic spaces. Committed to providing affirming care for all my clients of all identities and abilities, I have additional training/experience with those identifying as/with LGBTQIA+.

Bio

A long-time theater director and sometime drama teacher, Alexis leads drama therapy groups for adolescents and adults in residential treatment centers, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs, in an in-patient facility, and in private practice. Alexis co-facilitates a therapeutic theater group with NYU’s Health and Arts Lab in partnership with stoPD (support and training to overcome Parkinson’s Disease), which culminated in filming an original theater piece written, rehearsed, and shot entirely online. Alexis received a Master's of Fine Arts (MFA) in Theater Directing from Columbia University and received her Registration as a Drama Therapist (RDT) from the North American Drama Therapy Association with Dr. Myriam Savage as her Board Certified Trainer (BCT). Additional training and experience includes: Yoga Teacher Certification, advanced Viewpoints and Suzuki method, and as a sexuality and gender diversity discussion leader. Based in Los Angeles, Alexis travels far and wide via Zoom and the vast freeway system of Southern California.

Experience

Drama Therapy

ROWI Teen [&] Parent Wellness Center
Reasons Eating Disorder Center
Discovery Mood [&] Anxiety Program
NYU Health and Arts Lab / stoPD

Teaching Artist

B.R.I.D.G.E. Theatre Project
TREE Academy
Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences
Queens Theater in the Park / PS122

Theater Director

PS122; HERE; New York University; Barnard College; Young Playwrights Inc.; Columbia University; The Ohio Theater; Ensemble Studio Theater; Dixon Place; and Local Hakiri Smash Club.

Education

North American Drama Therapy Association

Registered Drama Therapist (RDT #830)
2022

Columbia University

MFA, Directing
2005

Reed College

BA, Literature / Theater
1999