Principles of Psychodrama Training

Principles of Psychodrama Training by Paul Baakman Paul Baakman is a Psychodramatist; Trainer, Educator, Practitioner (TEP); and is the Director of the Christchurch Institute for Training in Psychodrama. He is currently a trainer in the Christchurch and Dunedin training programs. This article draws from Paul’s written work for accreditation as a TEP. INTRODUCTION We have the potential to destroy the planet many times over. To survive and flourish The Spirit of Adaptation instead of perish, we need models and methods that reflect and support the wish At the time of writing I have been to sustain and develop life. One such watching a BBC documentary, called ‘The method is the psychodrama method, which Planets’. The program makes it clear that has a theory of spontaneity and creativity toward the end of the Sun’s life it will at its core. greatly expand and finally explode. This means ‘curtains’ for Earth. We may find J.L. Moreno had a grand vision for temporary refuge on other planets, but psychodrama. He said, “A truly ultimately we will need to look to the therapeutic procedure cannot have less stars for a new home. A bit of a challenge an objective than the whole of mankind.” perhaps, but we have about one billion (Moreno, 1993: 3) A true systems thinker, years. Perhaps we will take off with a Moreno saw all of life interconnected. He ‘Noah’s Ark’ of genetic codes, enabling was adamant we should have a system of us to conserve Earth’s life forms. Perhaps society in which everyone has a place. He creativity in science will enable us to adapt believed that the effect of excluding one to alien environments. We surely will need person could be immensely destructive, all the creativity and spontaneity that we (note the recent spate of high school can muster, and it is just as well that we shooting sprees in the USA: it appears the have some time up our sleeves! killer usually is socially isolated). 68 ANZPA Journal No.11 December 200268 The Systemic Principle of Inclusion on the need to integrate a personal vision, a creative plan and a developmental model Moreno’s thoughts about inclusion are with experiential learning. I illustrate how the applicable, not only to individuals, but also psychodrama method itself is applied in the to groups within society. This is of particular process of training in psychodrama, and how relevance to New Zealand and Australia, the training takes place in a larger context. both countries with a colonial past during which the earlier people were overrun. These principles of training represent an ‘Inclusion’ does not equal submission to overview of the main ideas and values that the dominant culture. It means partnership, currently underpin my philosophy and respect and dialogue, and a genuine attempt practice of training. I have developed these to heal the rift that arose through conquest ideas in collaboration with my trainers and genocide. Bob and Joanna Consedine and colleagues. They are constantly tested (2001:226), put this vision forward: “History through practice and they are evolving. verifies over and over again that the human spirit is capable of much more than self PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHODRAMA interest. There is innate fairness, generosity TRAINING and grandeur in every human being that has the capacity to reach out and respond to the The training journey is greatly enhanced demands of justice and the common good. when the trainee’s personal sense of The task of every human being is to improve purpose is congruent and integrated society”. with the psychodrama method In harmony with the above is the vision Those trainees who go all the way to put forward by ANZPA’s Board of certification will, at some point, need to Examiners, in the Training and Standards examine how to weave the method in Manual (1993:2):”the vision is of able men with their personal vision. For me this and women all over the place expressing was a gradual process. I was raised in the themselves relevantly in the ordinary here Roman Catholic tradition, which mostly I and now situations in which they live and found thoroughly uninspiring. However, work. This expression may be in silence, some aspects of the faith I still value today. in building, in planning, in negotiating, These are the music, the singing, the in teaching, or in play, but it will be a magnificent works in stained glass, and responsive and creative expression that some of the parables. Something that was brings joy to the human spirit, that uplifts the emphasised, (and which is still with me) is soul, that makes us feel part of the universe a sense of social responsibility. Although again”. this sometimes went no further then being encouraged to engage in charitable works, This article identifies six principles that I did hear and read of ‘heroes’ like the undergird a training program and illustrates bishops and priests working in Central these using personal experiences and America, putting themselves on the line practices. In developing these principles, and aligning themselves with the voiceless a central interest has been to make sure and the oppressed. These stories resonated they reflect the spirit of adaptation and the strongly within me. systemic principle of inclusion. I also focus ANZPA Journal No.11 December 2002 69 During my early teenage years, I developed and indirectly, contributes to society’s a passionate longing for adventure and the opportunities to endure and flourish. This exotic. I would walk along a forest path is in line with my personal vision for a and imagine strange lands and wondrous sustainable and progressive world. happenings. (I now see these daydreams as a womb for my then embryonic roles Possibilities in the Training Process of emigrant and dramatist). These early experiences are at the roots of my personal To assist the process of training people to vision for a world that can progress, and is become psychodramatists, we must first sustainable. ask how a training group can endure and flourish. The application of a set of guiding When the time came to choose an occupation principles is one way of ensuring this. The I felt equally attracted to social work application of the psychodrama method and drama school. I choose to train as a itself to the training process is a tremendous residential social worker and later as a strength in the ANZPA culture, and ensures psychiatric nurse. During my initial training, training is purposeful. Apart from what is I took part in an elective, which was a taught, also how the training is delivered ‘sensitivity training workshop’. This stirred provides trainees with another source of me, as it made me see what was made learning. possible through inspired group work. The training, when guided by a creative Many years later, during my training plan, is purposeful and effective as a psychiatric nurse, I enrolled for a psychodrama workshop organised by Mike In developing a creative plan the trainer Consedine and directed by Wayne Scott. This warms up to imagination and innovation. was a revelation for me and reminded me of The training that follows will be imbued my early passion for group methods. I took with dynamism and novelty, and trainees to it like a duck to water. I finally had found will get in touch with their love of learning. something that enabled me to creatively Training without a creative plan is likely to combine my desire for ‘working with people be experienced, by trainer and trainee alike, for an improved world’ (therapeutic work), as lacklustre, reactive, robotic, and all over with my longing for ‘adventure and the the place. exotic’ (drama). A Creative and Flexible Plan A Focus on Human Possibilities A creative and flexible plan draws inspiration The psychodrama method is an inclusive from the Training and Standards Manual, process that encourages people to be all that and takes into account the warm-up created they can be. Rather than learning to live by the curriculum. within one’s limitations, people are inspired to live to the full extent of their possibilities. ANZPA’s Training and Standards Manual This is a departure from a pre-occupation is an inspirational document that enables with illness, dysfunction or pathology. trainers and trainees to monitor development Psychodrama has a focus on creativity, more clearly. It also provides a reference and training in this method, directly 70 ANZPA Journal No.11 December 2002 point for those trainees who wish to present Creating Conditions in Which for assessment. Opportunities for Learning may Unexpectedly Emerge In addition to this the staff at the Christchurch Institute for Training in Too much of a focus on formal requirements Psychodrama have developed a curriculum can stifle the very spontaneity we aim to which guides the planning of training. The promote. In every training group, events take first step in creating a training plan is to place that provide material for training or assess the training group - its composition, teaching purposes. When a trainer makes use age and gender distribution, professional of these ‘golden moments’, the training has backgrounds, training history, and areas of a relevance to the here-and-now experience interest indicated by trainees. A flexible plan of group members. Connecting the training takes into account the developing warm-up with real-life events in the group, adds a of the group. However, when working with significant quality to the learning. The here- a training group I am always ready to adjust, and-now event has trainees warmed up or sometimes abandon, the plan. not only to their thinking, but also to their feelings and actions and relationships to Planning is essential for the warm-up of each other.

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