open Friday night sessions

[PATRICIA DESERT]

Wonderful.  I have marked Oct 20 and will plan to be there.

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: HV Psychodrama<mailto:hvpi at hvc.rr.com> 
  To: list at grouptalkweb.org<mailto:list at grouptalkweb.org> 
  Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 1:48 PM
  Subject: Re: open Friday night sessions


  Dear Patti,
  The first open session next fall will be in October...hopefully you can come then when the Hudson Valley is its most beautiful.
  R
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: PATRICIA DESERT<mailto:honeybwomn at msn.com> 
    To: list at grouptalkweb.org<mailto:list at grouptalkweb.org> 
    Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 1:44 PM
    Subject: open Friday night sessions


    You know, Rebecca, when I read your email about the open sessions I totally got excited about coming up there.  I have marked them on my calendar and  plan  to come up in September.  I'll make a weekend of it and plan a little R & R with some sightseeing in upstate New York after the Friday session.  I'll let you know when.  Sending you a big hug.  P.


    ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: HV Psychodrama<mailto:hvpi at hvc.rr.com> 
      To: list at grouptalkweb.org<mailto:list at grouptalkweb.org> 
      Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 1:21 PM
      Subject: Re: Open nights and such things


      Dear Patti,
      You are always welcome to attend one of the open sessions at the Hudson Valley Chapter of the ASGPP. I think we do a pretty good job of 'pacing' the dramas.
      Rebecca
        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: PATRICIA DESERT<mailto:honeybwomn at msn.com> 
        To: Adam Blatner<mailto:adam at blatner.com> ; list at grouptalkweb.org<mailto:list at grouptalkweb.org> 
        Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 12:59 PM
        Subject: Re: Open nights and such things


        Hello All--I would also really appreciate hearing from others who are doing open sessions.

        I understand that the idea of open sessions has stimulated controversy in the past due to concerns about uncontrolled regression, informed consent, etc.  I believe that psychodrama, wherever  it is experienced, has the potential for these kinds of issues to surface.  And I also think that a skilled director can avoid these things happening by focusing on the creation of safety for the group and the protagonist.  To my mind this means, among other things, providing the information for people to make an informed decision to participate, accurately assessing the ego strengths of the group and the protagonist, and tailoring the psychodrama experience accordingly.  

        Perhaps some would say that "tailoring" could dampen the spontaneity, thus contaminating the spirit of psychodrama.  However, spontaneity is all about feeling safe enough with self, with others, and within the environment to allow the spontaneity to arise.  In this respect tailoring is about the director staying consciously aware of his/her own internal process, preventing that process from contaminating the work, following the lead of the protagonist, being aware of group dynamics, AND pacing the work so that safety happens and is maintained.  Doesn't sound as if people running these other "open sessions" you are referring to Adam directed in this kind of way.  

        Obviously this issue resonates for me.    I love the idea of open sessions and I would not like to attend one w/o a director who can do the "pacing" above.    Patti 


        .   ----- Original Message ----- 
          From: Adam Blatner<mailto:adam at blatner.com> 
          To: list at grouptalkweb.org<mailto:list at grouptalkweb.org> 
          Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 8:34 AM
          Subject: Open nights and such things


          For a while there was some controversy over the ethics of open sessions. A number of people use this, as did Moreno, of course. In the wake of a heightened sensitivity to people becoming more vulnerable than they thought they'd be (e.g., encounter group casualties of the 1970s, subtle sexual harassment, power politics, etc.), the question of informed consent was raised.
               Jacob Gershoni has been working on a possible paper on this, but has been caught up with other things. I sent him some past exchanges on grouptalk (these occurred several years ago), and I suspect we could re-consider it again, pros and cons.

               Rebecca, might you be able to send me that guide, so I can pass it along to Jacob? Or post it on grouptalk as an attached file or if it's not very long, put it in the body of an email?
             
                Warmly, Adam  

          From: HV Psychodrama<mailto:hvpi at hvc.rr.com> To: list at grouptalkweb.org<mailto:list at grouptalkweb.org> Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 3:13 AM 
          Subject: Re: Open nights and such things - marketing Dear Peter,

              The Hudson Valley Chapter of the ASGPP has been running monthly open sessions for the last twelve years or so. We run them on the third Friday of the month, September through June. Different certified psychodramatists direct them. (By the way, if there is anyone out there who is certified and would like to have the chance to direct on the original MORENO psychodrama stage, please get in touch with me as we are always looking for new directors). We have anywhere from twelve to forty people show up. The numbers depend upon who is directing (people like Jonathan Fox bring in a large crowd), if the local universities send their students and if there is a training in session that weekend.
              There is a core of regulars who come most months, and there are always new folks. The open sessions serve a number of important purposes. One, it gives people a chance to see what the method is, which is useful especially for college students and professionals. Two, it provides an inexpensive place for people to do psychodrama as training and ongoing therapy groups are out of some folks financial reach. And three, it provides a sense of community. This became very clear to me right after September 11th when a large crowd of people turned up, Someone described the theater as a very spiritual place that evening...I think that evening it provided something that is often found in church, mosque and temple.
             I created a guide for doing open sessions that provides information both about format and marketing. I will send it to you. Rebecca
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