Multi-Modal Group Work - Opening a Dialogue between Psychodrama and Expressive Arts Making (2 days)

with Jan Allen and Hilde Knottenbelt

Psychodrama and expressive therapeutic arts practices both hold the view that we are always in relationship — with other humans and with the more-than-human world in which we exist. Both disciplines value the belief that creative flourishing in all relationships requires curiosity, openness to new possibilities, non-judgment, and a welcoming attitude toward the rich diversity life presents. Drama, poetry, art, music, and movement provide pathways for entering into creative dialogue with others, promoting the flourishing of the human spirit and deepening our engagement with the world around us.

Psychodrama, devised by J. L. Moreno, is a group method grounded in theatre and relational being. Therapeutic multimodal arts practice has many antecedents; however, the approach taken in this workshop shares psychodrama’s foundation in the belief that we come to know more fully and generously through a descriptive, phenomenological, and relational stance. While the two approaches have much in common, they also offer distinct perspectives and methods.

Participants can expect to be immersed in unfolding, dynamic group processes over the two days, where psychodramatic and expressive arts practices will come into dialogue. This engagement—focused on here-and-now experiencing—will be emergent and responsive to the life of the group and to each person’s engagement in life itself. Periods of reflection will provide opportunities for deeper understanding of multimodal group work. We anticipate that the interdisciplinary and phenomenological foundations of the two days will spark discovery, fresh inspiration, and meaningful encounters with others.

Jan Allen is currently a part time visual artist/gardener who has worked as an educator for 40 years. She has taught in mainstream universities, alternative education settings with at risk youth and adults, and more recently at The MIECAT Institute. Jan retired from her position as Director and Academic Leader of MIECAT a few years back and since then has been supervising doctoral candidates, marking PhD theses, and from time to time running staff professional development workshops. She enjoys collaborating with others from different disciplines, where the interactions spark innovative and thought-provoking practice.

Hilde Knottenbelt is a trainer, educator and practitioner of Psychodrama.  She has been on the teaching staff of Psychodrama Australia Melbourne Campus since the year 2000. Her interest in bringing together group work and creative arts practice began 35 years ago when she first began running Creative Voice groups in the community while training in psychodrama.  Her involvement with MIECAT as a sessional teacher which began in 2006, enabled her to begin to synthesise working with groups combining voice work, psychodrama and arts making processes. Hilde loves working with emergent processes.