Workshop 1 Sydney 2025: The Living Potency of Psychodrama (2 days)
Galileo (b.1564) said, “You cannot teach people anything. You can only help them discover it within themselves”. As a method of self-discovery, psychodrama works because it is guided by principles that capture fundamental aspects of human nature. Specifically, the potency of psychodrama emerges whenever attention is paid to four areas of human existence: the living nature of the group, the flow of spontaneity, embodied action and the ritual power of theatre. Each of these areas implicitly captures something that people respond to, but in combination they create a therapeutic theatre where participants’ inner life or spirit is sustained and nourished.
In this workshop, we will pay attention to these four interconnected areas, beginning with the power of theatre and its rituals – the use of the stage, entering into surplus reality, the drama unfolding towards the moment that matters, the nature of catharsis both in the protagonist and in the audience, and the closing of the work. In particular, we will notice the moments for intervention, such as when to slow the enactment down or to shift gears.
Moreno’s (1994:222) insight was that treatment begins only when we reach the psychological level at which the individual is spontaneous that is, feeling alive and responsive in their being. Mike Consedine (2006:65) called these moments “the tiny indicators of the cosmic force we call spontaneity”, which can appear at any phase in the psychodramatic process. The real test is whether we are spontaneous enough to respond confidently with whatever we have in those moments.
References
Consedine, M. (2006). Accessing Spontaneity in a Role Training Session. ANZPA Journal. No 15.
Moreno, J.L. (1994). Psychodrama. First Volume. Psychodrama & Group Psychotherapy (4th Edition). American Society of Group Psychotherapy & Psychodrama, McLean, VA.
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For further information rollobrowne1952@gmail.com mobile 0417682085 or Bona Anna
This program is the first workshop of the Sydney Psychodrama Personal and Professional Development Series 2025. Participants will experience and develop their understanding of the Psychodramatic Method and its application.
Trainers in this program are qualified psychodrama trainers, educators and practitioners with Australian Aotearoa New Zealand Psychodrama Association (AANZPA).
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Sydney Campus Policy on Refunds and Credit
All refund and credit decisions are at the discretion of the trainers. While we will always consider extenuating circumstances, in general the campus policy is:
- Cancellation up to 4 weeks out from an event – Full refund, minus a $40 administration fee or credit
- Cancellation within 4 weeks of an event – No refund but a credit towards a future event
- Cancellation within 7 days of an event or non-attendance – A credit towards a future event for illness only
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The Psychodramatic Method
The method assists participants to increase their spontaneity and creativity through active participation. This participation includes group work, enactment and theoretical mini lectures. The program will assist in developing leadership and will lead to increasing abilities in relating to others. The training assists is developing confidence in group presentations and in the development of interpersonal and group skills.
This program is designed for professional people who are involved in health, theatre, management, consultancies, coaching, mentoring , supervision, art, writing, teaching, human potential and creative therapies. The process will assist in the deepening of abilities to step into the shoes of others and this will contribute to the effectiveness of those who are therapists, counsellors, psychotherapists, health workers, managers, trainers and educators, actors, artists, writers and poets. Supervised practice for advanced psychodrama trainees is also an aspect of this program.
The course will consist of enactment, group participation and discussion. Participants are expected to be actively involved, on both days. The learning of new skills may be emotionally challenging.
A certificate of attendance will be given on request and may be used for points towards required professional development and psychodrama certification. The training hours are recognised by Psychodrama Australia and can lead to certification as a psychodramatist, sociodramatist, role trainer or sociometrist.