I Just Want to be a Normal Teenager: A Literature Review of Impacts of Adolescent-onset Chronic Illness on Identity Development and Proposed Benefits of Drama Therapy

Adolescence is a crucial moment in life for establishing our personal identity, internal values, and social autonomy (Christie & Viner, 2005); however, this already-tumultuous time can be further complicated by the addition of a chronic illness diagnosis which can lead to feelings of isolation, uncertainty, and an inconsistent sense of self (Chisholm, 2018; Wicks et al., 2019). This literature review investigates the current research regarding the impacts of chronic illness on identity development as well as the landscape of available expressive therapies interventions. Based on personal experience and available literature, I argue that drama therapy can provide much needed support to chronically ill adolescents and propose a curriculum structure for a drama therapy group designed to support participants’ unique identity development needs.