What is psychodrama?

by Karen Carnabucci, MSS, LCSW, TEP

artwork by Susan Aaron

Psychodrama — meaning “psyche in action” — helps us explore our inner and outer worlds with action.

This versatile method uses role play and is based in a complex theory of roles, relationships and creativity. It is easily adaptable to psychotherapy, education, business, law, organizational training,  consulting, community, theater and worship settings.

Psychodramatists have employed this method to train Secret Service agents to respond to emergency situations, help attorneys win difficult cases, develop innovative lesson plans in all levels of the educational system, and heal people suffering depression, trauma, anxiety and addiction. Taking into account the needs of the field, it can be successfully employed by trainers of teachers and managers, professionals in various fields, people who do consultation, religious educators, and many other non-clinical settings.

Sociometry, its associated field, is helpful for enhancing relationships of all kinds and especially valuable for effective team-building in any work place or group.

This psychodrama method, with its holistic approach, was created by J.L. Moreno, a European-born physician, starting in the 1920s.  Through the years, he developed and refined the method with his wife Zerka T. Moreno.

Psychodrama is not drama therapy – which is a separate creative arts discipline. It is the true forerunner of the creative arts therapies as we know them today. It is also an effective way to build community, which is an amazingly powerful healing force, and an important avenue to develop creativity and spontaneity at work and in our daily lives.

Through enactment, participants explore conflicts, wishes and concerns in a safe environment with the help of a group. The goal of psychodrama helps people discover their inner truth, express emotions freely and experiment with and establish authentic interactions with others.

Group leaders who use role play as part of their group activities are not necessarily using psychodrama although modern role play is rooted in psychodrama theory.

I’ve heard movies and plays referred to as a “psychodrama,” but this definition is different.

Psychodrama refers to the method developed by the Morenos and expanded by subsequent trainers. It does not refer to current events, movies, television or theater productions that are psychologically intense.

 Many educators, organizational trainers, consultants and others have used the method in business and other settings. To name just a few, psychodrama has been used to train lawyers in trial skills, doctors in communication skills and empathy training , the FBI in hostage negotiation, teachers in parent/teacher communications, counseling and psychotherapy students in effective interventions, and in corporate and academic settings in dealing with conflict resolution, supervision and mentoring.

How do I learn psychodrama?

Experiencing psychodrama begins the process of learning. If you want to pursue greater knowledge, personal growth programs and professional trainings are available in many venues. You can pursue it for your personal growth, for professional growth — or both. If you are undecided,  you can first learn more by reading books about psychodrama and finding information online.

How can I use psychodrama in my work?

If you enter a training program, you will learn the theoretical foundation and  a variety of proven techniques. Enrolling in training workshops will provide a framework to use psychodrama in your work. Psychodrama is not a bag of random techniques, but a specific method with its own theory and practice; training and supervision is crucial to employ the method skillfully and sensitively.

Karen Carnabucci, MSS, LCSW, TEP offers alternative psychotherapy, training & classes in Lancaster, PA, and is the author of “Show and Tell Psychodrama”, “Healing Eating Disorders with Psychodrama” and “Integrating Psychodrama and Systemic Constellation”.