Psychodrama is a relationship therapy and is an active and lively method for exploring the challenges of living. It is a method of group psychotherapy developed by Dr J.L.Moreno. Psychodrama employs guided dramatic action to enact and understand our feelings and behaviour. It is focussed on improving our ability to navigate life and relationships.

In a psychodrama group an individuals life concerns are acted out with the help of fellow group members. Psychodrama is very different from other therapeutic approaches as it involves the enacting of scenes from our lives in the present moment. Participants are actively involved in the role-plays and dramas and significant learning occurs from this participation.

Many participants are a little anxious about enacting roles but when they are actually participating and are coached and supported, find that they do this competently. The purpose of the group is to help people live more powerfully and effectively. The forum of the group provides a safe place that encourages exploration and self-expression and helps participants respond differently and appropriately to life’s demands.

Reasons for attending a Psychodrama Group:

• Resolve minor conflicts of living.
• Explore key relationships with self or others.
• Develop an increased sense of self.
• Improve self esteem.
• Feel more enlivened.
• Develop new skills such as communicating assertively.
• Develop strengths.
• Move forward in life.

Psychodrama provides a dress rehearsal for life, where we can see clearly how people experience and respond to life and create opportunities to do it differently.

My Personal Experience of Psychodrama

I began my interest in Psychodrama in 1995 and it has been very important in my personal and professional life since. It provides for me the psychological technology a theoretical and practical model for understanding myself and how I relate and respond in my life. Importantly the actual doing usually provides me with the clarity to know what I need to do to move forward. I continue to participate in psychodrama as a group member.

What I enjoy about the method is its creativity and how the very act of self-expression and relationship enables new perspectives and responses to develop in the moment.

I have extensive training and personal experience in psychodrama and a genuine belief in the value that this approach has in facilitating change.

What happens in a Group?

It is normal for people to be a little anxious about participating in a psychodrama group. However their curiosity and interest in living more fully enables them to attend. The initial stages of the group are focussed on helping participants feel safe by agreeing on group rules such as confidentiality, meeting the other participants and focussing on purpose and setting goals.

Subsequently the work of the group is to help participants explore their concerns and as a result make changes to their lives. At the end of any enactment there is an important sharing phase where participants are invited to reflect upon the relevance of the enactment to their life.

As a psychodrama director I create a nurturing space, for learning, reflection and experimentation. I am keen to help people feel supported, respect and help each other, work hard, take appropriate risks, have fun and remain curious in developing new ways of responding to life.