A Psychodrama Workshop

for Personal Growth and/or Professional Development

Each of us has inner wisdom. Yet, there are times when our wisdom seems distant and out-of-reach. Even when we know better, we find ourselves reacting with repetitive, unskillful patterns. We lose touch with the wise part of ourselves, with our autonomous healing center that truly knows what we need. How do we access our inner wisdom? What skills can we draw upon and develop to bring it forth? What blocks us from our inner knowing? What spiritual and other practices can help?

In a supportive group, we will access our deepest knowing and practice applying wisdom to our everyday interactions. We will use psychodrama, expressive arts and guided imagery to accomplish these goals and learn methods to work with ourselves and, if applicable, with others. 

What is Psychodrama? Psychodrama is an experiential method of exploring our private and public worlds in a multidimensional, creative way. It helps you to safely express feelings, develop insights and practice new, desired behaviors. Psychodrama meets you where you are in the present and assists you in contacting and developing the best that is within yourself. As a natural outgrowth, people experience a deeper connection and appreciation of others. Psychodrama emphasizes creativity and spontaneity rather than illness and pathology.

Who should attend? This workshop is appropriate for those new to psychodrama, as well as experienced practitioners; anyone wanting to further their knowledge of psychodrama; and to those seeking personal growth. No acting skills are needed and participation is at your level of comfort. Shy people are welcome.

Learning Objectives

After the workshop participants will be better able to:

• List three parts of every psychodrama
• Describe the autonomous healing center 
• Describe the benefits of role reversing with a wisdom figure
• Explain the importance of clients staying in their window of tolerance 
• Utilize mindful body awareness when taking a role
• Discuss the importance of the warm-up phase of psychodrama

A Two-Day In-Person Workshop/Training

Incorporating psychodrama and other experiential methods into individual therapy sessions can enliven and inspire both client and therapist. Participants will learn practical action techniques drawn from psychodrama including role-play, use of the action timeline and methods of choice-making. Attention will be given to warm-up, action and closure of each session. Therapeutic goals will inform the use of each intervention. Participants will practice techniques, taking the role of therapist, client and witness.

This training draws on psychodrama theory and methodology, Somatic Attachment Therapy, mindfulness and Buddhist Psychology and the theory of neuroplasticity. All teachings are trauma-informed, emphasizing the importance of clients staying in their window of tolerance. Join us for an engaging and stimulating weekend, while adding to your tool box of psychodramatic interventions. 

What is Psychodrama? Psychodrama is an experiential method of exploring our private and public worlds in a multidimensional, creative way. It helps you to safely express feelings, develop insights and practice new, desired behaviors. Psychodrama meets you where you are in the present and assists you in contacting and developing the best that is within yourself. As a natural outgrowth, people experience a deeper connection and appreciation of others. Psychodrama emphasizes creativity and spontaneity rather than illness and pathology.

Who should attend? This workshop/training is appropriate for those new to psychodrama, as well as experienced practitioners; professionals and students in mental health and related fields; criminal and civil lawyers; and those wanting to further their knowledge or experience of psychodrama. No acting skills are needed and participation is at your level of comfort. Shy people are welcome.  

Learning Objectives

After the workshop/training participants will be better able to: 

• Apply three psychodramatic methods when working with individual clients
• Assess how to work safely with individuals, drawing from trauma and brain research
• Utilize body awareness through mindfulness
• Demonstrate moving from talking to action, from the therapist chair to action or stage area
• List two uses of an empty chair in individual therapy
• Use props, scarves, pillows, etc., in an individual session
• Discuss the importance of the warm-up phase of psychodrama in working with individuals
• Drawing from psychodrama and attachment theories, explain why doubling is effective
• Demonstrate interviewing a client in a supportive role
• Utilize the timeline as a pencil and paper technique and in action

A 2-Day In-Person Workshop/Training

Psychodrama is known for its efficacy in facilitating a full and powerful expression of thoughts and strong emotions. However, thoughts and emotions can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if we, or our clients, have a history of trauma. When this happens, the nervous system gets activated and the thinking brain goes offline. Trauma survivors can easily move out of the optimal zone of arousal or Window of Tolerance into a state where deep, lasting changes are not possible to achieve. Psychodrama can provide skills for regulating emotional arousal, identifying and tolerating strong emotions, realizing improved ways of relating and creating new narratives.

This workshop/training draws on concepts from psychodrama theory, the Therapeutic Spiral Model (TSM), Somatic Attachment Therapy, mindfulness and Buddhist psychology, as well as the theory of neuro-plasticity to teach the importance of safety, self-regulation and reparenting for trauma recovery. Integrating psychodrama with music and movement, art and other expressive approaches we call upon the wisdom of the body and develop and practice new desired roles that foster healing and post-traumatic growth. Some highlights of the workshop/training include doubling developed for trauma survivors as well as the parent-child dialogue, which is a powerful approach to reparenting that can be used with clients. Join us for a stimulating and powerful weekend.

What is Psychodrama? Psychodrama is an experiential method of exploring our private and public worlds in a multidimensional, creative way. It helps you to safely express feelings, develop insights and practice new, desired behaviors. Psychodrama meets you where you are in the present and assists you in contacting and developing the best that is within yourself. As a natural outgrowth, people experience a deeper connection and appreciation of others. Psychodrama emphasizes creativity and spontaneity rather than illness and pathology.

Who should attend? This workshop/training is appropriate for those new to psychodrama, as well as experienced practitioners; professionals and students in mental health and related fields; criminal and civil lawyers; and those wanting to further their knowledge or experience of psychodrama. No acting skills are needed and participation is at your level of comfort. Shy people are welcome.

Learning Objectives

After the workshop/training participants will be better able to:

• Explain the rationale for using psychodrama and other experiential methods to work safely with trauma survivors.
• Describe the Window of Tolerance.
• Discuss the importance of helping clients stay in the Window of Tolerance, drawing from trauma and brain research.
• Apply at least one experiential technique to help trauma survivors stay in the Window of Tolerance. 
• Describe the steps in facilitating an inner child psychodramatic dialogue.
• Explain how doubling can be used for expansion and containment.
• Discuss the need for safety, resourcing and containment with individuals with trauma histories.
• Discuss when you would use the Containing Double/Body Double (CD/BD).
• Apply the Containing Double/Body Double (CD/BD) in your work with individuals, couples or groups.
• Utilize the Containing Double/Body Double (CD/BD) for oneself in the context of personal and professional relationships.

A 2-Day Workshop for Personal Growth & Professional Development

Most of us practice compassion for others with some success. Yet, how much do we practice compassion for ourselves? Self-compassion means treating ourselves as we might treat others when they fail, suffer, or feel inadequate. This might seem simple, but it is easier said than done. A growing body of research points to the power and effectiveness of cultivating self-compassion in reducing depression, anxiety and shame and increasing happiness and life satisfaction. Self-compassion has also been linked to better health and immune function, in part due to increased parasympathetic and reduced sympathetic nervous system activation.

In this workshop we will combine psychodrama with the teachings of Buddhist teachers Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer to explore the six attributes of self-compassion. Drawing upon Moreno’s role theory, we will put these attributes into action and practice how we might incorporate them into our daily lives. There will be opportunities to take the role of protagonist, auxiliary, group member, and director.

What is Psychodrama? Psychodrama is an experiential method of exploring our private and public worlds in a multidimensional, creative way. It helps you safely express feelings, develop insights and practice new, desired behaviors. Psychodrama meets you where you are in the present and assists you in contacting and developing the best that is within yourself. As a natural outgrowth, people experience a deeper connection and appreciation of others. Psychodrama emphasizes creativity and spontaneity rather than illness and pathology.

Who should attend? This workshop/training is appropriate for those new to psychodrama, as well as experienced practitioners; to professionals and students in mental health and a variety of other fields; and those wanting to further their knowledge or experience of psychodrama. No acting skills are needed and participation is at your level of comfort.

Learning Objectives: 

After the workshop participants will be able to: 

• Discuss the importance of self-compassion.
• Apply self-compassion teachings to your own life and your work with others. 
• Demonstrate how to teach the six attributes of self-compassion movement and sculpting. 
• Use an experiential structure to explore blocks to self-compassion.
• Name the three phases of psychodrama. 

The Bay Area Moreno Institute is offering its 2020-2021 Psychodrama Training Group. This group provides in-depth training for people seeking to expand their knowledge of the theory and practice of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy.

The training group is a supportive, stimulating community of learners and a laboratory in which to develop spontaneity as a director, auxiliary, protagonist and group member. Trainees will have input into specific areas of study and numerous opportunities for directing.

Through this monthly training program you will: 

• Experience the interplay of creativity and spontaneity and learn how to bring these concepts to life with individuals, couples and groups

• Learn how to judiciously and safely use improvisation, role play and other action-oriented techniques to support behavior change, healing and wellness

• Experience activities that support healthy connections in groups

• Receive peer encouragement and coaching in applying psychodrama methods to your work

• Experience inspiration, compassion and support from a group of diverse and dedicated professionals 

Training is open to professionals and students in the fields of mental health, law, substance abuse and recovery, creative arts therapies, religion, human services, personnel management, group facilitation and education, as well as those wanting to further their knowledge of psychodrama.  

When: One Sunday per month for 9 months

Dates: October 25, November 15, December 6,

January 24, February 21, March 14,

April 25, May 16 and June 13.

A commitment to all 9 sessions is required. 

Time: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm 

Where: Online via Zoom. 

Investment: $175 per training day. Limited partial scholarships available. Please inquire. 

Payment can be made: (a) in three installments of $525 each (Oct-Dec, Jan-March & Apr-June) or (b) monthly, on or before the day of the training. 

Payment is expected for all 9 sessions and can be made by check, Venmo or Zelle. 

Payment for one month is required at registration. 

Refund policy: Full refund two weeks prior to first meeting. 50% refund thereafter. No refund three days prior to the first meeting of the group (after October 22, 2020). 

Information/To Register: Contact: Sylvia Israel (415) 454-7308 or sylvia@imaginecenter.net
Space is limited, so please register early.

New students are required to have an interview with Sylvia. 

Continuing Education Information

Educational Goal 

Students will learn the philosophy, history and methodology or Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy as created by JL and Zerka Moreno.  

Learning Objectives

After the training group sessions participants will be able to: 

- List the three parts of every psychodrama
- Identify the five elements of psychodrama

- Use the technique of doubling in your work

- Discuss the difference between a supportive and containing double

- Demonstrate the use of role reversal to access strengths  

- List three reasons to role reverse
- Explain why spontaneity and creativity are important in psychodrama

- Discuss two key philosophical underpinnings of psychodrama

- Demonstrate at least one body-based somatic method to integrate into your work

- Explain why all of psychodrama has been referred to as "spontaneity training" 

- Describe how sociometric exercises create cohesion and safety in a group 

- Apply sociometric methods to your work

- Create a warm-up 

- Discuss the importance of sharing

- Demonstrate directing an action vignette

Continuing Education for licensed professionals (additional fees apply): Course meets the qualification for 63 psychodrama training hours (7 hours per training day) for LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, LEP as required by the CA Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Sylvia Israel provider #129230. Certificates will be distributed upon completion (of 9 group meetings). 

See http://www.bayareamorenoinstitute.com/ceu-provider/ for information about Accommodations and Grievances.

CEUs for Psychologists and Nurses may be available. Please inquire.

63 psychodrama training hours may be applied toward Psychodrama Certification (recognized by the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy). Hours may also be applied for Drama Therapy (recognized by the North American Drama Therapy Association).