What is Psychodrama?
What is Psychodrama?
Psychodrama is a form of psychotherapy developed by Dr. J.L. and Zerka Moreno that uses acting to facilitate problem solving. The client, called the protagonist, puts his/her truth into action with the assistance of the therapist, called the director, and other participants, called auxiliaries.
Action Methods refer to a form of personal growth work derived from psychodrama that facilitates the client’s shift from narration (verbally telling his/her story) to motor representation (showing through use of the body as well as the voice). Psychodrama is an experiential and expressive arts modality (as are drama therapy, music therapy, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, poetry therapy), engaging the right side of the brain as well as the left side. This powerful modality has applications in psychotherapy, education, business, law, and more!
What is The Therapeutic Spiral Model™?
The Therapeutic Spiral Model as a whole system of modified psychodrama. This is a trademarked model of experiential change for trauma survivors. (Hudgins, Experiential Treatment for PTSD. 2002, p. 207)
See also, Dr. Kate Hudgins article: A Simple Clinical Action Map to Heal PTSD
What is Souldrama®?
Souldrama® developed by Connie Miller uses psychodramatic techniques to integrate spirituality and psychology: three levels of intelligence, our rational, emotional and spiritual, aligning the ego and the soul to create spiritually intelligent leadership.
Also see Connie Miller, TEP, NCC, LPC http://souldrama.com/, and Linda’s Souldrama® Blog.
What is Bibliodrama?
Bibliodrama – as developed by Peter Pitzele, author of “Our Fathers’ Wells” and “Scripture Windows” – is a creative and engaging way to revitalize the meanings of Biblical texts by bringing traditional stories to life.
Pitzele, a trainer, educator and practitioner fluent in psychodrama and sociometry, created this form as a result of his personal spiritual quests.
In both small and large groups, Bibliodrama is employed by people of all ages to make new meaningful connections with stories from the New or Old Testaments. They may appreciate their inheritance from Biblical generations and the links between the ancient characters’ lives and their own lives.
The process, carefully guided by a trained group leader, involves staying with the text while also expanding upon the parts of the story that are silent or not embellished in writing.
Currently, Bibliodrama is used in churches, synagogues, retreats, faith communities and schools with people of all levels of familiarity with the Bible.
As people learn more about the characters and stories of the Bible, they often make personal connections to their own lives. Kept safe by the “mask” of the character that they play, they have the opportunity for a unique kind of personal growth and even healing.
Natural choices of participation are respected, and each participant’s resources – even as a witness – are valued. No special expertise or experience in acting or theater is needed.
Practical Psychodrama by Karen Carnabucci, MSS, LCSW, TEP
What is Axiodrama?
For anyone experiencing a dark night of the soul or any troublesome quandary that seems to be blocking one’s way upon the spiritual path, taking part in an axiodrama can provide a meaningful and profound intervention. Whatever one experiences as an obstacle between herself or himself and God could provide the basis for an axiodrama. Adam and Allee Blatner have identified various spiritual challenges that could identify the content for an axiodrama. These include a person’s reluctance to experience “closeness to God,” a person’s perception that his or her “innate qualities” must impede union with God, a person’s “feeling angry at God,” a person’s feeling “intimidated by the demands” of a spiritual path, a person’s fears about “going crazy,” of dying, of being misled or of misleading others, to name just a few. An axiodrama can address virtually any spiritual crisis or concern. All that is needed are a sincere heart and willingness to do the work. (Alma Nugent, MA)