Positive Psychology in Action!
The gap between the theories of Positive Psychology and real-life practices cannot be better bridged via anything else but Psychodrama!
Theory and practice are totally compatible with psychodrama to serve every single domain of human life with the help of experiential learning of action methods. Although it is a therapy technique, its an intervention method with a widespread impact. The tools of psychodrama are not merely about curing mental illnesses or relieving symptoms. Rather it aims unleashing the potential for human flourishing. Originating from ancient Greek, “Psycho-drama” means “ soul-in-action”. Therefore, it is not to survive, but to thrive!
As well said by Moreno (1953), the founder of psychodrama:
“A truly therapeutic procedure cannot have less an objective than the whole of humankind.”
Nowadays, the tools and techniques of psychodrama have various other implications. These include but not limited to:
- The sociometric push and pulls in social media that maybe even Facebook is already using without knowing its roots,
- Mirroring the ingroup-outgroup conflicts or resolutions that many politicians use or abuse in times of political polarization,
- Role reversals and doublings in Artificial Intelligence research and applications in product development,
- Sociodrama for job designs and organizational trainings that facilitate agentic and authentic human interaction in the workplace effectively with a well-being focus, or
- Any virtual learning and training systems such as Zoom that aim wider connections for better efficacies and well-being using surplus reality.
We worked on the original community theatre stage of Dr. Moreno. This is where the term “group psychotherapy” is first coined in the 1930’s.
In a nutshell, the creativity of action in psychodrama can be utilized as an exit for every dead-end. In psychodrama, our motto is “Don’t tell, show!”
Psychodrama helps to transcend from strategy to execution.
On the stage, we are not “talking the talk” but “walking the walk” in a state of flow.
So… Yes, that means we are the process; yes, that is the intervention to facilitate experiential learning and vitality!
Note to those who are further interested:
- American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP) is the official contact for everything about psychodrama.
- I am at the Membership Committee of the ASGPP. Don’t hesitate to skill up yourself with these action methods to facilitate your business. Become a member!
- If you want to enroll a training, if you want to read more about psychodrama, or if you want to find a psychodramatist nearby you, this is the most reliable source! https://asgpp.org/index.php
an earlier version is originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.