Beijing prisoners get dose of psychodrama therapy  

北京12所监狱服刑人员首演心理剧 真人真事改编

(ECNS) -- Altogether 620 prisoners from 12 prisons in Beijing have participated in therapeutic psychodramas for the first time, according to the Beijing Youth Daily.

The city's prison administration department said the prisoners are all emotionally disturbed. But by closely recreating real-life situations and acting them out in the present, prisoners can evaluate their behavior and more deeply understand a particular situation in their lives.

A prisoner surnamed Chen in Yanqing Prison had refused to confess to his crime, despite being sent to prison five months ago. The psychological counselor encouraged Chen to play in a drama called "Out of cocoons," which led Chen to confess to his crime and promise to be a good person, the department said.

Psychological counseling is an important part of rehabilitation, which helps a prisoner leave the criminal world and live a normal life, a worker at the prison said.