Understand the character.
Deepen the story.

At the intersection of psychology and performance, Dr. Julie States helps actors, writers, directors, and creative teams deepen character and story while caring for the people bringing them to life.

Exploring the motivations, emotions, and relationships behind a character’s choices brings psychological depth to performance. The work also supports grounding, thoughtful boundaries, and connection within the ensemble.

Explore the work

Sunlight falls across a rehearsal room with empty chairs and an open script — Character depth. Human connection. Care for the creative team.

Psychological Dramaturgy

Exploring the human experience
behind the story.

Every character has an inner world. Every creative process has people at its heart.

Psychological dramaturgy looks beyond what characters do to understand why they do it—the needs, fears, attachments, and histories that give their choices meaning. It supports actors in connecting deeply with a role while remaining grounded in themselves, and helps creative teams explore how rhythm, tension, and empathy shape the audience’s experience.

Meet Dr. Julie States

Creative Collaboration

Two ways into the work.

Actors gathered around scripts during table work in a rehearsal room

For Actors

Depth in the character.
Grounding in yourself.

Explore motivation and emotional history while maintaining a clear relationship between your own experience and the character’s.

Explore work with actors

A pen and notebook in the writing process

For Writers & Directors

The human truth
beneath the text.

Discover the contradictions, relationships, and emotional logic that give a story its psychological depth.

Explore creative collaboration

Selected Theatre Collaborations

Across stages. Across stories.

Goodman Theatre · Alabama Shakespeare Festival · Steppenwolf Theatre · Arkansas Repertory Theatre · The Old Globe · Penn State University School of Theatre

View theatre credits

Scope of Practice

An artistic collaboration.

Psychological dramaturgy is a collaborative artistic practice that supports character development, storytelling, and the well-being of creative teams. It does not establish a therapist–client relationship or provide clinical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be confused with clinical psychological practice or used as a replacement for psychotherapy or other mental health care.

Understand the character.Deepen the story.

Exploring the human experiencebehind the story.