Changes In The ABE Certification Requirements

[ABE Psychodrama]

Dear All,

 

In regards to the Board's certification requirement, I would refer all of you to the Board’s Mission
Statement:  To establish, for the
United States of America and Canada, professional standards in the fields of
psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy, and to certify qualified professionals
on the basis of these standards.

 

The Board often
receives recommendations from the psychodrama community about things that it
could require that would improve our profession, our professional community and
the world.  In the past some of those
recommendations for added certification requirements have included:  writing a thesis; publishing articles
and books; writing articles for our newsletters; presenting psychodrama
workshops at professional conferences; and serving on local, regional and national
committees of our organizations (ASGPP and the Board).  

 

We have also
received requests that psychodramatists engage (either though the certification
standards or as a continuing education requirement for renewal of
certification) in the provision of services that would work towards Moreno’s
ideal of healing the entire world. 
We have received recommendations that certified psychodramatists:  be required to provide pro bono
services to clients; become engaged in the international community; and provide
specific outreach to survivors of 9/11 and Katrina.  

 

The Board, over
the years, has also received numerous requests to require a more specific and
rigorous curriculum for the requirement of obtaining 780 hours of training for
the practitioner level.  The Board
has been asked to require a specific number of training hours for ethics,
research, and sociometry.  We have
also received requests that a specific portion of the training be required from
attending residential psychodrama training workshops.  The Board has also received multiple
recommendations that attending the annual meeting of the ASGPP be both a
requirement for certification and a requirement for renewal of certification.  

 

While each year
we receive at least one suggestion for some additional requirement for
certification we also receive at least one complaint that the standards for
certification are already too rigorous and restrictive.

 

There are two
basic guidelines that the Board uses to review these suggestions.  The first is whether the request falls
into our mission statement.  While
many of these ideas are wonderful, such as increasing the professional
literature in the field, the Board has not seen them as related to our mission
statement.  The second guideline is
to keep the standards as brief and clear as possible.  Adding increased complexity to the standards (e.g., each
person applying for certification must demonstrate a minimum of forty hours of
training in ethics, etc.) confuses prospective students and unnecessarily
complicates the certification process.

 

I would also
ask that each of you remember that the Board requires a Master’s degree from an
accredited university as a requirement for the practitioner level
certification.  In the United
States most universities require that students write a master’s thesis.  All the master’s degree programs in
mental health that I am aware of also require specific courses in ethics and in
research.    

 

The vast
majority of our certified psychodramatists are licensed professionals (e.g.,
mental health, addictions, teachers, and lawyers) who are required to obtain
continuing education credits and whose professional conduct is already being
monitored by their respective licensing Boards.  

 

I would also
remind you that the Board of Directors can not change or modify the
certification standards.  All
changes in the certification standards must be approved by a majority vote of
the membership.  In the past twenty
years the standards for certification have been successfully revised several
times and several times the proposed revisions were defeated by the
membership.    

    

I have sent
this message through grouptalk to clarify some of the issues and concerns that
have been raised.  The Board
welcomes and responds to specific requests from a specific individual.  If you have a request for information
or a request for changes in the Board policy or requirements you may send them
to the Board either by email or snail mail.  If a person sends the Board an email or snail mail letter
that written communication is automatically placed on the agenda of the next
regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting.  At the very least there would be a discussion of the
suggestions at the Board meeting and a response from the Board
Chairperson.  

 

If you have a
specific request for the Board Of Directors please send this to us at our email
(abepsychodrama at yahoo.com) or write us a letter.  We will consider all suggestions and
provide a written reply to your written communication.

 

 

Best Wishes, Dale

 





Dale Richard Buchanan, Ph.D., T.E.P.

Executive Director, American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama,

Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy

202-483-0514

abepsychodrama at yahoo.com

www.psychodramacertification.org


      
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