[IAGP:PSYCHODRAMA] international psychodrama ideas

[James Sacks]

First, thank you again Manuela, for so many things. Your editing that 
book on international psychodrama theory has been a great 
contribution---of course acknowledging the work done by Clark Baim 
(especially) and Jorge Burmeister on this project.

Manuela has suggested a number of things, generally encouraging us:
"The challenge for the future is how not to be a threating competitor 
to other theoretical schools in IAGP...."

AB: I think we need to more clearly acknowledge a modern model of 
psychodrama that is compatible with the deeper psychological insights 
of psychoanalysis and other schools of thought, even if our emphasis 
is more action-oriented. Goot gezookt!
I'd be interested in other comments on how some people find 
psychodrama as a field to be somewhat threatening or challenging, and 
more closely diagnosing the nature of this dynamic.  Psychoanalysts 
usuallly are people who are comfortable listening and seeing deeply 
into the meaning of what they hear. Some are brilliant at it. They 
are less good at doing, so and they hang back from it and may 
discourage it in their patients. Their passivity fits many of their 
personalities. We may be just the opposite and propel ourselves and 
our patients into action even when thinking and understanding are 
more called for. People are naturally drawn into professions that 
require skills they have and consider of less importance professions 
that especially require  behavior that create anxiety as we know 
psychodrama does. Psychodrama can frighten, not only patients but 
therapists as well. Our task is to acknowledge an help allay this 
anxiety among our patients and also among our colleagues.



MM ... and also how to keep our members engaged and get new ones...
ab: I think the IAGP's expanding its mission to include other types 
of group work may help! (They've already begun to do this, but 
publicizing the meaning of the expansion of the name of the 
Association and what this expanded name means... "...and Group 
Processes"---

MM (continues) ... and also to face the possibility that other 
international and smaller movements in the psychodrama world will 
bring up some competition, which can be seen as a threat or as an 
opportunity , depending on how much we are able to improve our own 
effectiveness.
AB: What are you talking about?
Who are these "other international and smaller movements in the 
psychodrama world will bring up some competition" you mention?
This might be an important sociological / professional theme that 
many people don't know about---me included..

MM: However, I do agree with Christer Sandall idea, which has also 
been my own since Barcelona, with a next innovation in IAGP, namely 
to have application domains (clinical, organizational, educational, 
etc) instead of theoretical sections.
It seams obvious to me that this structure would serve better the 
cross-fertilization and general purpose of IAGP, also to be able to 
effectively compete with theoretical umbrella international 
organizations.

AB: Again, we may need this explained. It seems that you're 
suggesting sections that deal with areas of application, rather than 
sections for family therapy, psychodrama, psychoanalysis, group 
analysis, Gestalt therapy, etc. -- areas called
Applications of GP (of any type) in ... business organizational 
development community building social action education etc. (as well 
as therapy)
Is that so?

Warmly, Adam (who sadly cannot afford to attend in Rome, but hope 
that I can be there in spirit)...

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