Scope and Importance of the Moreno Psychodrama

"The dramatic performance is an inner state in between, an intermediary between fantasy and reality. The method is fictional but the experience is very real. The fictional form allows us to do things that are still out of reach in real life, express emotions such as feared, changing behaviors or exhibit new features. Once we have experienced, although fictional mode, these new experiences can be part of the repertoire of our real life. "(Emunah, 1994, p.27) . No doubt Jacob Levy Moreno, provided valuable lessons, therapy staff for growth, as the case of psychodrama, which, as Wikipedia reminds us, presented to psychodrama as a new form of psychotherapy that can be widely applied. Psychodrama puts the patient on a stage, where you can solve their problems with the help of a few actors therapy. It is both a method of diagnosis and treatment. Blatner (1988, p. 1) and presented it Psychodrama is a method of psychotherapy in which patients act the important events of your life instead of just talking about them. This involves exploring the action, not just historical events, but what is most important, the dimensions of psychological events usually not addressed in conventional drama: the unspoken thoughts, encounters with those who are not present, representations fantasies about what others may be feeling or thinking, a possible future imagined and many other aspects of the phenomena of human experience.

Although psychodrama is commonly used in a group setting and can be a useful method to catalyze the process group (and, in turn, be catalyzed by the group dynamics) should not be considered as a form of therapy group specifically. Can be used, as in France, with several co-therapists trained and a single patient. Psychodrama can also be used with families, or even in a modified form, in individual therapy. Catrec.org tells us about him, that psychodrama is a form of psychotherapy, devised by JLMoreno inspired improvisational theater and initially conceived as a group or "deep psychotherapy group" (Moreno, JL, 1959b, p. 108). Moreno presented the psychodrama as "a new form of psychotherapy that can be widely applied" (Moreno, JL, 1946, p.177). According to its creator: "Historically psychodrama represents the departure point in the treatment of the isolated individual to individual treatment groups, treatment of the individual with verbal methods to the treatment methods of action. " (Moreno, 1946, p.10). "Psychodrama puts the patient on a stage, where you can solve their problems with the help of a few actors therapy. It is both a method of diagnosis and treatment." (Moreno, 1946; p.177).

In other words, psychodrama is a form of psychotherapy (or resource psychotherapeutic) consisting of the representation (dramatization) by the patient's past or future events, real or imagined, external or internal, and experience to the fullest, as if they were happening in the present. In these representations dramatic use various techniques, guided by certain principles and rules, and intended, as required by the process, one or more of the following objectives: (1) Be aware of your thoughts, feelings , motivations, behaviors and relationships. (2) Improve the understanding of situations, from the viewpoints of others and of our image or action on them. (3) investigate and discover the possibility and the actual capacity of new and more functional behavioral options (new replies). (4) Test, learn and prepare to act out behaviors or responses that were more convenient. It also indicates that psychodrama can be used not only as was originally conceived in group therapy, but also in individual therapy and couples therapy. A sum of rules and principles, together with concepts such as spontaneity, bodily action, meeting, dramatic catharsis, the "tele" and role theory, guide and support a set of techniques and resources such as : the reversal of roles, the soliloquy, dubbing or the projection of the future, many of which have been widely adopted for a variety of psychotherapeutic and educational streams with satisfactory results (Blatner, 1996).

Over the years psychodrama has been used as a treatment for all types of people suffering from mental disorder, as well as children, elderly and young misfits, besides being used in behavior modification programs. Currently, psychodrama is no longer used to produce cathartic reactions, but as an instrument to foster contact, especially live action, emotions, feelings and fantasies of the subject, thanks to the expressive possibilities offered by the stage performance. In summary, various techniques are used psychodrama dramatic, guided by certain principles and rules, and intended, as required by the process, one or more of the following major psychotherapeutic objectives: To realize one's own thoughts, feelings, motivations, behaviors and relationships. Improve understanding of the situations, the views of others and of our image or action on them. Investigate and discover the possibility and the actual capacity of new and more functional behavioral options (new replies). Test, learn and prepare to act out behaviors or responses that were more convenientes.Cabe also note that psychodrama can be used not only as was originally conceived in group therapy, but also in individual therapy and couples therapy.

Gives us. Catrec.org that the instruments used are: the stage. The representation requires a dramatic space, the place of action. In the space designated for that purpose, the protagonist, with the help of director, recreates the imaginary place of the scene to render. A clear definition of the location and boundaries of the stage, coupled with a good description, representative elements objectification and careful preparation to achieve reproduction and the fullest possible experience of space and time to represent, are of great importance for a effective development of psychodrama. The protagonist. The protagonist is the patient whose problem will be addressed in the psychodrama. No character no psychodrama. THE DIRECTOR. The director is responsible for guiding action and apply the principles and appropriate techniques to facilitate the achievement of the objectives of psychodrama as well as care for and prevent damage to the protagonist and other members of the group. It is the specific role of the psychotherapist is aimed at achieving the objectives psychotherapy. THE SUBSIDIARY "I AUXILIARY". This role is to represent those who act the other people involved in the event dramatized. Your task is to help the protagonist to develop the scene. Moreover, as contributors to the success of the therapeutic process are also auxiliary psychotherapist, whose signs must comply .

This function can be professionally prepared for it, which are present as partners of the therapist or other group members are elected by the protagonist, with the condition that they accept it and that the director does not consider the inconvenience. In cases where no or do not want to use other members or employees to perform this function (because it is an individual therapy or not be considered suitable) the other "actors" in the scene can: (1) Be represented by the same therapist. (2) Be represented symbolically by objects (empty chairs, pillows, etc.).. In the latter case is often referred to the experience: "monodrama" and is the form generally used in Gestalt therapy. THE PUBLIC. The public is essential to any theater and is also considered important in psychodrama. In the latter case the audience is made up of members of group therapy and are not passive, but emotionally involved in the scene, emphatically, learning and then share with the protagonist their own experiences. However, in some cases, such as individual therapy or couple, there is no real observers outside the stage, which does not impede the effective implementation of a psychodrama.

Sources: Various Internet websites. Notes from the Chair CO. Faces, 2001