Open sessions

Fri Jun 20 16:04:06 CDT 2008

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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