Bobbi Kidder has made it her life’s work to create transformative therapy. As a facilitator and educator, she believes in embodying life's joys and sorrows. She focuses on movement and play to create breakthroughs for individuals, educators, families, and communities alike — from her home base in the Pacific Northwest to around the world.

​

Since 2011, she's been on the Drama Therapy faculty at Antioch University in Seattle, Washington. She leads local, national, and international workshops on Resolving Conflict and Active Learning. She co-led a trip to India, developed “on the road” program for student field experiences, and has worked with drama therapy students to develop several original “devised” scripts, most notably the Decades performance that was originally produced in 2015. 

 

Previously, Bobbi has taught at Rogue Community College and served as Executive Director of Southern Oregon Impact Theatre. She has served on the National Association of Drama Therapy Board and is currently a member of the Drama Therapy Fund Board. She has also served on the Executive Committee of the National Association for Drama Therapy.

 

Her awards and accolades are many. But her greatest achievement is collaborating with others to change lives. In her own words: 

​

"If I look at improvisation as a way of playing and imagining, I can see that I have always been an improviser.  What has changed is my awareness of what that identity means and how basic it is to acceptance, curiosity, and nimbleness. It feels fundamental— this art and life form where the language of 'yes and' is in relationship with impermanence. Improvisation combines embodied play and imagination in ways both lighthearted and able to harness the deeper spirit of discovery. I have always loved that range of options, claiming it each day more fully in my life and work."

​

 

EDUCATION/AFFILIATIONS

Advanced Certificate of Narrative Therapy – Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy, 2017

Board Certified Trainer (BCT) – North American Drama Therapy Association, 1995

Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) – North American Drama Therapy Association, 1984

Masters of Arts (MA) – Cal State University Los Angeles, 1983

Bachelor of Arts (BA) – University of Northern Colorado, 1972

​

UNIVERSITIES

Marylhurst (Portland)

Chico State University

Southern Oregon University

Kansas State University

 

AWARDS

2011 – Received the David West 7th Generation Diversity Award

2008 – Governor’s Award for Community Service Organization – Drug Court Theatre

2007 –“Can Do” award from the Winema Council of Girl Scouts

2003 – Zonta “Community Rose” award

2001 – Asante Foundation (Southern Oregon Healthcare system) Spears Award for Excellence in Education

2001 – Southern Oregon Adolescent Training and Treatment Center – Child Advocate Award

2000 – National Corrections Film and Video Festival- Award for Best PSA (Worked with Youth to produce the PSA through funding from Listen UP!)

​

BOOKS (see more)

ImaginACTION: Activities that allow students to get up on their feet and moving! Fort Collins: Cottonwood Press, 1995. Second Edition 2002; Third Edition 2009

Big Window. New York: Writers’ Club, 2002

​

ARTICLES 

“Sally Bailey’s Barrier Free Theatre for Arts and Psychotherapy.” Fall, 2011

“Robert Landry’s The Couch and the Stage for Arts and Psychotherapy. ”Fall 2008

“Healing Through Action” Focal Point, A National Bulletin on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health; spring 2002 (3-6)

 “Healing Through Action” Dramascope, New York: Fall, 2002

​

FULL LENGTH PLAYS

Of America I Sing: the Epiphany of Walt Whitman, 1987, produced via grants from Oregon Committee for the Humanities and The Carpenter Foundation. Archived in Impact Collection

Private Interlude of Eleanor Roosevelt. 1995. In cooperation with American Association of University Women and Rogue Community College. Archived in Impact Collection

Blinding Shadows, 2006. Collaboration between Impact Theatre and RCC. Archived in Impact Collection

​

VIDEO

What You Want – 1995. Archived in Impact Collection

Ask for More – 1998. Archived in Impact Collection

PSAs –1999-2002. Archived in Impact Collection​

​

​