`The book is helpfully structured with its cental chapters broadly following the shape of a typical psychodrama session′ - Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling & Psychology `As with all Paul Wilkins writings the book is thorough and well-researched, with a wealth of information arising from wide readership and personal communication.... My own view is that the book fulfils its aim as an introduction to psychodrama for the audience it addresses. It also is packed with information about areas which experienced psychodramatists and sociodramatists will wish to debate′ - British Psychodrama Association Journal The text unfolds in such a way that the central feature of psychodrama as an action therapy is spontaneously made manifest. The book is good for students of this method and would be a challenging refresher for practitioners in the field. All the special terms used by psychodramatists are defined in a succinct glossary so that the uninitiated will not be bewildered on first encountering "auxilliary egos", "surplus reality", "social atoms" or even the titillating idea of "act hunger"! The "Guide to further reading" and the section on psychodrama and the internet ensure that old-fashioned book- and journal-worms are as well catered for as cybersleuths′ -New Therapist This fascinating book introduces the rationale, theory and psychotherapeutic practice of psychodrama. It provides an insight into its origins, outlining its techniques and bringing to life the dynamic interrelationships that form the core of the practice. Following the theatrical process that lies at the heart of psychodrama, the book shows how the enactment of scenes from the past, present or future, real or imagined, can benefit the group of individuals involved, leading to unexpected insight and growth through creativity and spontaneity. Psychodramatic terms and processes are explained and illustrated using numerous examples from practice.

Psychodrama can be one of the most powerful tools used in psychotherapy. Charmingly illustrated with a wealth of case examples, this volume presents current training techniques and shows how to use them, whether as a complement to traditional verbal approaches, in individual or group therapy, in educational or community settings, or in many other contexts. Thoroughly updated and expanded, this third edition reviews the most recent developments in psychodrama theory, clarifies various new psychodramatic processes, and features extensive new references and an updated bibliography. In this volume, Dr. Blatner continues to provide the best practical primer of basic psychodramatic techniques.

Psychodrama: Advances in Theory and Practice provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the theory and practice of psychodrama, integrating different psychodramatic schools of thought. Psychodrama is one of the pioneering approaches of psychotherapy and is practised by thousands of practitioners and in most countries of the world. The editors of this volume bring together contributions from Europe, South America, Australia, Israel and the USA to explain and explore recent innovations. They look at how psychodrama has contributed to the development of psychotherapy, introducing concepts that have had a profound influence on other therapies. These include concepts such as role theory, the encounter, the co-unconscious, the social atom, sociometry, action research, group psychotherapy, the cycle of spontaneity and creativity, role play and many related concepts and techniques. This book will be of great interest to all students, practitioners and trainers in the field of psychodrama. It will also appeal to professionals and students in the related fields of psychotherapy, counselling, psychology and psychiatry.

This open access book outlines the intersections between social work and the methods of sociometry and psychodrama. Different sections offer essential practice wisdom for both trauma-focused and trauma-informed experiential work for individuals, groups, organizations, and communities. This text enriches the understanding of various action-based approaches and highlights how to enliven social work practice. The chapters include clinical vignettes and examples of structured sociometric prompts with diverse populations, topics, and social work settings to enhance the understanding of group practice, individual practice, and community practice. It provides social workers and other professionals with dynamic tools to improve assessment, intervention, activism, and leadership. Strength-based practical tools are offered to readers, along with guidance for theoretical conceptualizations. This integrative book is an essential read for students, practitioners, leaders, and scholars within the fields of social work, psychodrama, the creative art therapies, group therapy, community organizing, and social activism.

First published in 1987. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc. is a federal non-profit corporation. It was formed to promote and advance the contributions made to the health sciences by the late Milton H. Erickson, M.D., during his long and distinguished career. This volume is a collection of the papers from video-taped sessions at first Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference.

This textbook is for all students and practioners of psychodrama and drama, and professionals seeking to extend their knowledge of creative arts therapies. The author provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of psychodrama, presenting a systematic analysis of its essential therapeutic ingredients. He specifies the core issues involved, discussing the interpersonal, the emotional, the imaginary, the behavioural and the cognitive elements. The book examines the professional roles assumed by psychodramatists and establishes the skills required in each role. Explored is the use of the concept of acting out, both in psychodrama and psychoanalysis, and the author also discusses the problem of resistance, and the importance of the concept and technique of closure in each psychodrama. A processing checklist is added at the end of the book as a systematic aid in evaluating the professional skills of the psychodramatist. The chapters are both pragmatic and solidly grounded in theory, thereby providing students with an effective, in-depth alternative to the traditional verbal therapies.

Beginning with a discussion of the intrinsic nature of psychodrama and providing the reader with a thorough description of the psychodramatic method, this book navigates the nature, applications, theories, and practices of the techniques originated by J. L. Moreno. The book covers the work of the psychodrama pioneer in the field of mental health and discourse on his techniques. Methods of handling situations and scenarios that frequently arise in psychodrama sessions are described and amply illustrated with examples from actual psychodramas. The existential philosophy upon which psychodrama is founded, Moreno’s Doctrine of Spontaneity-Creativity, and the theories important to understanding psychodrama are all discussed. The final chapter is devoted to the life and work of J. L. Moreno. This book will be of great interest to psychodramatists, drama therapists, psychotherapists, and other mental health professionals who use the psychodramatic method in counseling and training programs.

This book presents trauma-informed principles for ethical, safe, and effective group work, psychodrama, and leadership. Content will include practical guidelines, detailed instructions, and diverse examples for facilitating both trauma-informed and trauma-focused groups in treatment, community, and organizational leadership. Chapters focus on various topics including safety, empowerment, social justice, vicarious trauma, and leadership. Organizational leadership is approached through the lens of SAMHSA’s guidance and the framework of group work leadership. The book includes significant focus on sociometry and psychodrama as strengths-based and experiential group approaches. Psychodrama’s philosophies, theories, and interventions will be articulated through a trauma-informed lens offering psychodramatists, group workers, and organizational leaders new conceptual frameworks and action-based processes. Chapters contain a blend of theory, research, practical guidance, and examples from the author’s experience. This book will appeal to group workers, therapists, psychodramatists, creative arts therapists, organizational leaders, trainers, facilitators, supervisors, community organizers, and graduate students. This book offers group facilitators the insight and tools to lead engaging and meaningful groups. The potential for retraumatizing participants is addressed while promoting trauma-informed practice as an ethical imperative.

This book offers a comprehensive guide to psychodrama, including the underlying philosophy, methodology, theory and applications. Taking readers through the process of staging a psychodrama session, from the contracting phase, exploration and enactment to closure and integration, the book also presents brief short examples to illustrate how to choose the best methodological approach for any context, and describes in detail the various psychodrama techniques and their application in practice, with indications, contraindications, typical pitfalls and FAQs. The book demonstrates that psychodrama is not merely a collection of methods and techniques and that the potential of psychodrama cannot be fully utilized without an in-depth knowledge of its conceptual foundations. With examples from a range of practices, it shows the broad applicability of psychodrama in therapeutic and non-therapeutic contexts alike, e.g. in educational contexts (school and adult education), social work, organization development, coaching and many other fields. This easy-to-read book uses jargon-free language and will appeal to psychotherapy researchers and practitioners, as well as non-therapeutic professionals like human resource consultants and life coaches. This is a translated and revised edition of the best-selling German book Psychodrama: Grundlagen (Springer, 2014, 3rd edition).