Trauma, van der Kolk and psychodrama

Mon Nov 9 15:42:12 CST 2009

Might it be helpful for a small group to meet at the conference to develop the beginnings of a "consensus paper" that outlines some key principles for using psychodrama to work with trauma material.  Maybe the group could make a start during an in-person meeting, and then send the document out via this listserv and/or the ASGPP Forum to get additional comments and move toward finalizing the document through a series of iterations.  I think there may also be some interactive websites that allow people to do this sort of thing (writing together and making comments, changes, etc., until consensus is achieved).  When the document is complete, maybe it could  be posted on the ASGPP website, sent to other organizations (including professional associations that work with trauma - can't think of the names right now), and disseminated in other ways.  Maybe it could be the first of a number of papers that we put out to help educate various audiences about what we do, the underlying rationale for why we do it, what we do not do, etc...... Just brainstorming here..... 

Thanks for raising this topic for discussion. 

Cathy 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: edwschreiber at earthlink.net 
To: "Connie Lawrence" <clawrence05 at windstream.net>, "HV Psychodrama" <hvpi at hvc.rr.com> 
Cc: "ASGPP grouptalknew" <list at grouptalkweb.org> 
Sent: Monday, November 9, 2009 3:47:26 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: Trauma, van der Kolk and psychodrama 

Trauma Drama is the "theater work" Dr. van der Kolk spoke about during the conference my friend asked him about psychodrama.  I believe he will be offering it again - as a training program - in 2010.  In any case, he recommended to the 300 attending that they consider this as one route.  Interestly too, my friend reported that he felt yoga was - when well considered in terms of trauma - a very reasonable therapeutic tool. 

Whether it's TSM, or classical psychodrama, or a catharsis of integration, or some adaptation - all have some part to play and value when one of the leading trauma experts is sounding a alert to us to respond to.   

Personally I am not in favor of anyone "representing the method or organization" since we each and all have a view, experience and perspective. 

I do think making some contact with him at conferences, suggesting some dialogue for our own learning (and his) would be worthy of consideration. 

These are important things to speak about with one another here, too. 

Thanks for all the response. 

Ed 

-----Original Message----- 
>From: Connie Lawrence <clawrence05 at windstream.net> 
>Sent: Nov 9, 2009 1:26 PM 
>To: Edward Schreiber <edwschreiber at earthlink.net>, HV Psychodrama <hvpi at hvc.rr.com> 
>Cc: ASGPP grouptalknew <list at grouptalkweb.org> 
>Subject: Re: Trauma, van der Kolk and psychodrama 
> 
>Dear Friends, 
> 
>The Trauma Center at JRI used to do a program with teens called "Trauma 
>Drama" - it is a violence prevention program that was done in collaboration 
>with Urban Improv out of Boston working with 4th & 5th grade kids at risk. 
>It has elements of role play, future projection and quite a few components 
>of psychodrama. 
> 
>There is an evidence-based piece of research van der Kolk and Spinazzola 
>(along with several other authors) did on the efficacy of drama in this 
>work.  Here is the link: 
>http://gwired.gwu.edu/hamfish/merlin-cgi/p/downloadFile/d/16952/n/off/other/1/name/Spinazzolaetal5219SessionPlanpdf/ 
> 
>I just went on the website and I don't see the program listed anymore - nor 
>do I see the name of the professional I spoke with about it a year or so ago 
>about the program. It sounded like a great program - it is a bit surprising 
>it is no longer there. 
>thanks, 
>Connie 
>Connie Lawrence, MSW, LSW, CET II 
>Experiential Modalities & "Rock the House!" 
>clawrence05 at windstream.net 
>216-233-1600 
> 
> 
>Visit my blog! 
>http://experientialmodalities.blogspot.com/ 
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Edward Schreiber" <edwschreiber at earthlink.net> 
>To: "HV Psychodrama" <hvpi at hvc.rr.com> 
>Cc: "ASGPP grouptalknew" <list at grouptalkweb.org> 
>Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 10:36 PM 
>Subject: Re: Trauma, van der Kolk and psychodrama 
> 
> 
>>I realize this was an "event" that took place some years ago at the 
>> ASGPP Conference where Dr. Van der Kolk watched (and was very 
>> concerned from what I gather) about what he saw.  However, his 
>> concern seems to have grown - and he is speaking publicly now - at 
>> this time - saying the method reinforces trauma, not resolves it - 
>> from the report from my colleague who questioned him publicly at this 
>> conference a month or two ago.  I may attempt to meet with him, I 
>> have certification in the treatment of psychological trauma (from BU) 
>> and want to address his concerns, not pleased he is doing this 
>> publicly, wanting to find out his present concerns.  Ed 
>> On Nov 8, 2009, at 9:54 PM, HV Psychodrama wrote: 
>> 
>>> Bessel Van Der Kolk was very disturbed by a workshop he saw at our 
>>> conference when he was the keynote speaker a number of years 
>>> before. Judy Swallow has spoken to him...I think she sent him Kate 
>>> Hudgins book. Judy has a somewhat removed connection with him. You 
>>> might try contacting her.. 
>>> Rebecca 
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward Schreiber" 
>>> <edwschreiber at earthlink.net> 
>>> To: "ASGPP grouptalknew" <list at grouptalkweb.org> 
>>> Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 8:01 PM 
>>> Subject: Trauma, van der Kolk and psychodrama 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> Dear Colleagues, 
>>>> I had dinner tonight with a psychologist out here in Western 
>>>> Mass.   She is in private practice, but worked in a clinic 
>>>> serving  traumatized kids 
>>>> and families for many years.  In any case, she was concerned about 
>>>> a conference she recently attended in the Hartford, CT area, in which 
>>>> Dr. Van der Kolk as the keynote speaker.  Interestingly enough, he 
>>>> mentioned yoga and "theater" as helpful in the resolution of 
>>>> trauma. This 
>>>> colleague has known of our method for some time so she raised in 
>>>> front of 300 people the question to him, about the work of J.L. 
>>>> Moreno and 
>>>> psychodrama.  This conference was a few months ago.  Dr. Van der 
>>>> Kolk resolutely announced psychodrama as counter-indicated for the 
>>>> treatment of trauma, suggesting abreactive nature of the method, 
>>>> as  he experienced it some time ago, makes the situation worse 
>>>> for  traumatized 
>>>> patients. 
>>>> 
>>>> Does anyone know how to reach him, what we might do to address 
>>>> this  with him?  Does anyone have a connection with him and why 
>>>> might he 
>>>> be saying this - around the country - about psychodrama? 
>>>> 
>>>> Ed 
>>>> 
>>>> Grouptalk mailing list 
>>>> List at grouptalkweb.org 
>>>> http://grouptalkweb.org/mailman/listinfo/list_grouptalkweb.org 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Grouptalk mailing list 
>> List at grouptalkweb.org 
>> http://grouptalkweb.org/mailman/listinfo/list_grouptalkweb.org 
> 
> 
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