[IAGP:PSYCHODRAMA] Open sessions
Sue Daniel
suedan at netspace.net.au
Wed Jul 2 21:05:16 CDT 2008
Dear Walter,
An Open Session here (in Melbourne, Australia) usually refers to a
psychodrama session which is open to the public. The group is open,
not closed as in an ongoing group which has a particular number of
ongoing members, nor open in the sense of an open or closed system,
which is another concept altogether. The Moreno Psychodrama Society
and the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne together host monthly open
sessions in our Theatre of Spontaneity. This Theatre began 18 months
ago. During a Theatre of Spontaneity we depict events
psychodramatically, use techniques such as the living newspaper, the
magic shop, the magic box, as well as doubling, mirroring and role
reversal. We sculpture moments from the day or week or month, that
have been special, significant or intriguing, conduct sociodramas on
everyday situations and use sociometry to explore situations in our
social networks. A theme may not be chosen beforehand, it may emerge
spontaneously form the group, although some of the producers may come
up with a theme beforehand. We've explored many things, for example,
the river systems and weather, gardens and families and the Tower of
Babel, and even done some graphing in action. I have noticed in those
who come regularly, who don't belong to any training program or
personal development program, have expanded their role repertoire,
developed relationships and have become more confident. I think I can
safely say we all gain a greater perspective on our world and our
relationships to it and each other.
With best wishes,
Sue Daniel
Director, Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne
On 22/06/2008, at 1:34 AM, wbaile at mdanderson.org wrote:
> Some of us do not know what 'open sessions' entail..could someone
> enlighten?
>
> Please Note New Mailing Address:
>
> Walter F. Baile MD
> Professor, Behavioral Science
> Director, Program in Interpersonal Communication
> and Relationship Enhancement ( I*CARE)
> The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
> Unit 135
> 1515 Holcombe Blvd
> Houston Tx 77030
> Tel. 713 745 4116
> FAx 713 794 4236
>
> wbaile at mdanderson.org
>
> Adam Blatner <adam at blatner.com>
> Sent by: <iagp-psychodrama at yahoogroups.com>
> 06/20/2008 04:04 PM
> Please respond to Adam Blatner
>
> To:
> Peter Parkinson <peterpi at xtra.co.nz>, Peter Howie
> <peterhowie at macquariehouse.com.au>, Group Talk <list at grouptalkweb.org>
> cc:
> Jacob Gershoni <gej9001 at nyp.org>, Manuela Maciel <manuelamaciel at sapo.pt
> >,
> <iagp-psychodrama at yahoogroups.com>
>
> Subject:
> [IAGP:PSYCHODRAMA] Open sessions
>
> Re: Sociodrama open evenings?Hello, all. The question of open
> psychodrama
> is interesting, as there have been some people who have expressed some
> wariness about the wisdom or ethics involved. Do people attending know
> what they're getting into? What are the cautions that directors should
> know about or be expected to maintain. What is properly not the
> responsibility of the director?
> In the olden days of the 1940s through the 1970s, people were viewed
> as
> somewhat more rational and capable of making their own boundaries.
> This is
> ironic, because during that era, in medical circles, they were also
> patronized---not given full information if it was thought they
> "couldn't
> handle it"---such as being told they had a likely fatal illness.
> After the
> 1970s things changed. The feminist movement brought forward themes
> that
> others had noted---the power of authority to subtly silence protest
> being
> one that is most relevant. It's as if the bar shifted upward. Medical
> research found that people who gave technically informed consent were
> found not to have really understood the paper they were signing.
> People
> who were being explained things often nodded and said they
> understood but
> if tested later only absorbed a fraction of what a patient physician
> may
> have said, and not infrequently got things backward. So when is
> informed
> consent "really" informed?
> The encounter groups of the 1970s were often irresponsibly
> conducted, with
> a baseline expectation that folks were responsible for their own
> needs and
> mental health. Within this setting, leaders allowed for
> confrontations and
> scapegoating that led to psychological casualties.
>
> Even in ordinary yoga and fitness classes, people are led to do what
> the
> leader instructs, even though it may stress out certain tendons or
> joints
> and lead to physical problems. Learning how to "listen to your body"
> and
> resist the instructions that may work for others takes a bit of
> practice.
>
> Nevertheless, a variety of centers have operated open sessions, from
> Moreno's work in the 1940s through the 1970s (continued by many of the
> leading training directors and Zerka during Moreno's decline and
> after his
> passing); and at other institutes. Let's get more feedback about who
> conducts such sessions.
>
> Did anyone do this for a while but then stop and if so, why?
>
> I have past correspondence about this, as it's been addressed on and
> off
> for many years. I think Jacob Gershoni was going to write up his
> experiences, but he seems to have gotten busy. I'm not personally
> experienced enough in leading such events that I'd be willing to be a
> first author, but I may help a little in sharing what I've heard and
> my
> thoughts. It would make a good symposium but mainly it does need to be
> integrated and eventually written about!
>
> The theme of psychodrama versus sociodrama open sessions adds another
> dimension to it, for as sociodrama the contract shifts a bit to the
> less
> personal-- there's less of an implied contract that's therapy-
> like--- (not
> that such a contract ever actually existed, but there are nuances in
> phenomena).
> here it shades into Boal's work and similar efforts like Theatre of
> the
> Oppressed and Rainbow of Desire.
>
> Let's see if this probe hits anyone who wants to pick it up and run
> with
> it. Warmly, Adam
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Peter Parkinson
> To: Peter Howie ; Group Talk
> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 3:09 PM
> Subject: Re: Sociodrama open evenings?
>
> Hi Peter
> History wise, starting 1980 there was a regular one in Thames New
> Zealand,
> a small rural community (8000 people) an hour from Auckland. It was a
> weekly occasion, government funded that I ran together with Sally
> Christie
> for 13 years, and it was continues by John Barton (now in Melbourne)
> and
> Noel Borst for a further few years after I left the area. Chris
> Mourant
> and I (and later Cushla Clark who took my place, ran a Monday evening
> group for several years in Auckland also on a weekly basis. What open
> psychodrama will be happening in Auckland from now on is currently
> being
> discussed.
>
> As you know, Peter, I am keen to see open psychodrama be available
> in each
> and every centre in the world, and perhaps on the same day of each
> week or
> month, so that, when traveling, we can meet one another through the
> open
> psychodrama session and have the method available as we travel.
>
> Cheers
>
> Peter Parkinson
> Aoteoroa New Zealand
>
> On 20/06/08 6:31 PM, "Peter Howie"
> <peterhowie at macquariehouse.com.au> wrote:
>
> HI fellows,
>
> A quick question - I know many places run regular psychodrama open
> evenings - does any one run regular sociodrama open evenings?
>
> We ran our first the other night and had a great response.
>
> Cheers for now
>
> Peter
>
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Sue Daniel
suedan at netspace.net.au
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