When told the group would be doing psychodrama today, a client said, “Psychodrama, what the f#%* is that?” This is probably a common (though usually not spoken so articulately) response to psychodrama. If you’ve ever had that sort of reaction to psychodrama and would like to know more about it, please come out to the next open session in the series, “An Evening of Psychodrama” this Friday (May 20, 2011) at 7:30 PM. The series is hosted by the Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama.
Open sessions are a great way to experience psychodrama without having to join a group. They are 2 – 2 1/2 hour psychodrama sessions facilitated by board certified psychodramatists and offered to the general public. Attendees can participate at whatever level they are comfortable with. This month’s open session will be directed by Anath Garber, a psychodrama trainer who lives and works in New York City. She will direct a full psychodrama, including a warm-up, protagonist selection, piece of work in action and sharing. After the session is over, attendees are invited to stay to chat. Juice and cookies will be provided.
These open sessions take place at Boughton Place – 150 Kisor Road ,Highland, NY 12528. The chapter asks for an $8 donation ($5 for those on limited income) and no reservations are needed. If you’d like more information about the open sessions or about psychodrama, you can contact me or you can call the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute (845) 255-7502 or e-mail them at hvpi@hvc.rr.com.
reginasewell
Turn Roadblocks into Building Blocks 
I have to agree that Psychodrama is probably not winning many fans on the basis of its name. I often have people responding to my mention of it with “Yeah, I’ve already got enough “Psycho Drama” in my life! Ha Ha!” They generally feel pretty proud of their pun while failing to realize this is about 8th time I’ve heard this. Stifling my grimace, I nod knowingly and go about explaining how profound and transformational my personal experience with this…well, you know what it’s called, process has been. But please let it be said that this work by any other name would be just as powerful and I join you in encouraging anyone interested to check it out!
Lisa,
Thanks. Yeah… people get lost in slang… psycho – like a guy with a big knife coming at you when you’re in the shower. drama — like the roller coaster approach to like taken by people when they’d rather spin from one disaster to the next than take the effort to unravel the the tapestry of their story to find their own meaning and courage.
But really, it means story (drama) of the soul (psyche).
amazingly put, regina. bravo!