Upcoming Psychodrama and Sandtray Trainings and Workshops at IMAGINE! and in Oakland

[Sylvia Israel]

Greetings!
I am pleased to send my October 2009-January 2010 workshop and training 
schedule.

Some news this fall/winter:

-I am collaborating with other psychodramatists to create the Bay Area 
Moreno Institute. BAMI is dedicated to promoting the training, practice 
and development of Psychodrama, its offspring action methods and related 
fields & philosophies in the SF Bay Area. Together, we are offering a 
series of psychodrama trainings/workshops. I am excited about this 
development as we will be able to provide on-going training on a variety 
of topics.

-On November 7-8, I will co-leading a Sandtray and Expressive Arts 
Therapies Workshop with Jo Sopko. (Registration for this workshop is 
separate from the Psychodrama Series.)

-On January 31, 2010, I will be co-leading a workshop for Jewish 
Descendents of the Holocaust with Armand Volkas. (More detailed 
information will be available in the future.)

Thank you for your support and your commitment to a creative journey.
Many Blessings,
Sylvia Israel



November 7, 2009 (9:30 to 5:00) & November 8, 2009 (10:00 to 4:00)
METAPHOR AND SYMBOLS: The World of Sandtray and Expressive Arts--at 
IMAGINE! in San Rafael
with Jo Sopko & Sylvia Israel

Through the use of Sandtray and the Expressive Arts, we will give form 
to images that live in our unconscious, and in our daily waking life. We 
will also explore the inner knowing and wisdom that lives inside each of 
us. Our work will begin with the sandtray and expand to include an 
inter-modal approach (writing, art, drama/psychodrama and movement), 
expressing what we discover through the power of the arts.

Participants: This workshop/training is designed for psychiatrists, 
psychologists, social workers, creative arts therapists, pastoral 
counselors, coaches, and students in the human services field who work 
with individuals, couples, children and families. It is also appropriate 
for anyone who has an interest in the arts and their use in personal growth.

$220.00; $195.00 early registration by 10/26/09. Student rates and 
limited partial scholarships available.

Jo Sopko, MFT– (415) 257-3843 josopko at yahoo.com
Sylvia Israel, MFT – (415) 454-7308 sylvia at imaginecenter.net

Continuing Education: 13 CEUs for MFT, LCSW (BBS 947), & CA Board of 
Registered Nurses (CEP 11733). Hours may be applied towards NADT & 
psychodrama certification. NAADAC and Registry of Group Certification 
pending.


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PERSONAL GROWTH/PSYCHODRAMA TRAINING SERIES
October 2009-January 2010
Scroll down to see hours and fees.

o Sign up for just the courses you want or the whole series
o Savings for multiple registration
o Additional savings for early registration and deposit



October 24 & 25, 2009 – Oakland, CA
CARING FOR THE CARE-GIVER: Psychodrama for Restoration and Renewal
- With Mario Cossa, Sylvia Israel & John Olesen

Format and Goals: Participate in the creation of a spontaneous and 
playful environment that focuses on restoring energy and passion while 
encouraging on-going plans for effective self care. The workshop 
provides an opportunity to do your own personal growth and healing work 
through psychodrama and other action exercises for personal renewal and 
refreshment. Reconnect with your creativity and ability to have fun. 
Explore the roles of The Care Giver, The Care Receiver, and The Self 
Nurturer and develop a long-range plan of self-care strategies in a safe 
and confidential atmosphere.

Participants: This workshop is for helping professionals (e.g. social 
workers, therapists, physicians, etc.) as well as those who spend a 
significant portion of their time and energy caring for others (parents, 
children of aging parents, care-givers of those with chronic illness, etc.)



November 14 & 15, 2009 – Oakland, CA
PLAYBACK THEATER & PSYCHODRAMA: Developing Auxiliary Skills via Playback 
Theatre
- With Roni Alperin and Mario Cossa

Format and Goals: Although created out of Psychodrama, Playback Theater 
has developed over the years and around the world as a vital and 
exciting form of improvisational theater in which audience members share 
their personal stories and have them “played back.” This training uses 
playback theater training as a way to expand and develop the skills of 
the psychodramatic auxiliary and vice versa. It will be heavily focused 
in action although prior experience in neither playback theater nor 
psychodrama is required.

Participants: This training is designed for people interested in 
learning more about Playback Theater and/or Psychodrama, and the 
relationship between the two.



December 5 & 6, 2009 – San Rafael, CA
EXPANDING PERSONAL NARRATIVE THROUGH ENACTMENT: Action Methods in 
Individual and Couple Therapy - with Sylvia Israel and Elizabeth Plummer

Format and Goals:Incorporating experiential methods into individual and 
couple therapy can enliven and inspire both client and therapist. 
Participants in this workshop will learn practical action techniques 
including warm-ups to role play, role play, use of the action time line 
and the many uses of concretizations. Methods for exploring the 
complexity of the choice-making process will be introduced. Participants 
will be given ample time to practice these methods.

Participants: This training is designed for psychiatrists, 
psychologists, social workers, creative arts therapists, pastoral 
counselors, coaches, and students in the human services field.




January 15, 2010 – San Rafael, CA
BEFRIENDING YOUR AMYGDALA: Understanding The Neurobiology of Trauma & 
Developing Self-Care Strategies – With Mario Cossa – A stand-alone 
workshop or add-on to the January 16 & 17 training.

Format and Goals: This workshop explores, in action, the neurobiology of 
trauma and its effects on the brain. From the role of the amygdala, the 
frontal cortex, etc. participants gain understanding of the way that 
normal memories are laid down and how trauma interrupts this process. 
Using this understanding as a foundation, participants will briefly 
explore ways in which trauma effects not only clients, but also the 
professionals who serve them. As the processes of Compassion Fatigue are 
explored, participants will develop personal and group strategies to 
provide adequate self care.

Participants: This training is designed for professionals who work with 
the effects of trauma, individuals who have been personally affected by 
trauma, and professionals coping with the effects of secondary 
traumatization.

Friday – 6:45 for a 7PM start to 9:30pm. (2.5 hours of training)



January 16 & 17, 2010 – San Rafael, CA
WORKING WITH CARE AND COMPASSION: Using Psychodrama with Survivors of Trauma
- With Mario Cossa and Sylvia Israel

Format & Goals: The workshop consists of didactic presentation, 
experiential activity, and discussion/processing as it explores 
classical psychodrama, role theory, the Therapeutic Spiral Model™ 
(Hudgins, 2002, 2000), and other action strategies for working with 
issues of trauma recovery. An action demonstration of the neurobiology 
of trauma may also be included. Participants will learn the safe and 
appropriate uses of the psychodramatic method in working with trauma 
including: utilizing intra-psychic role categories of trauma survivors 
and their applications for treatment planning; building personal, 
interpersonal, transpersonal, and cultural strengths using action 
methods; and employing action interventions to contain intense affect 
and dissociation.

Participants: This workshop is appropriate for professionals working 
with the effects of trauma (counselors, social workers, therapists, case 
managers), psychodramatists interested in learning more about this 
methodology, professionals who have been personally effected by trauma, 
and those in various roles who work with survivors of trauma and their 
families.



Two-day schedule for all workshops (except for 1/15-Befriending Your 
Amygdala):
o Saturday – 9:15 for a 9:30am start to 5:30pm. (7 hours of training)
o Sunday - 9:45 for a 10am start to 4pm. (5 hours of training)


Continuing Education: Approved for CEUs for MFT, LCSW (BBS947) & CA 
Board of Registered Nurses (CEP 11733), Sylvia Israel, MFT, RDT/BCT, 
TEP, Provider; NAADAC (#301) and NBCC (#6079) ASGPP/Mario Cossa, MA, 
RDT/MT, TEP, Provider. Hours may be applied toward Drama Therapy and 
Psychodrama certification. Additional Charge of $25/workshop for CEUs.


WORKSHOP FEES:
One workshop: $220 (Student - $150); Two workshops: $420 (Student - $ 
280); Three Workshops: $600(Student - $390); Four Workshops: $760 
(Student - $480) Register and make your deposit (of $75 per workshop) by 
October 1 and receive an additional 10% off the total cost. (To be 
eligible for student rate you must be enrolled at least half-time in an 
undergraduate or graduate program and/or be completing an internship in 
an accredited program. Please inquire if uncertain.)


REGISTRATION: Sylvia 415-454-7308; email: sylvia at imaginecenter.net or
Mario 510-234-0827; e-mail: cossa at attglobal.net


PRESENTERS:

Roni Alperin is a professional actor and director. He is a member of the 
Living Arts Playback Theatre Ensemble. Roni teaches Playback Theater in 
various settings and also directs New Beginnings Playback Theatre 
Company at the California Institute of Integral Studies where he is 
completing his Masters Degree in counseling and drama therapy.

Mario Cossa, MA, RDT/MT, TEP, CAWT is a psychodramatist, drama 
therapist, and theatre educator who has conducted workshops and has 
presented at conferences in the U.S.A., Canada, England, South Africa, 
Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Mario is a certified trainer in the 
Therapeutic Spiral Model (TSM) for the safe use of psychodrama with 
survivors of trauma.

Sylvia Israel, MFT (MFC 31245), is a nationally Certified Psychodrama 
Trainer (TEP), Registered Drama Therapist/Trainer (RDT/BCT) and 
Founder//Director of IMAGINE! Center for Creativity & Healing and Bay 
Area Playback Theater. She on the faculty of the California Institute of 
Integral Studies (CIIS), and has presented at Spirit Rock Meditation 
Center. Sylvia is a Fellow of the American Society for Group 
Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP). She maintains a private practice 
in Marin and San Francisco.

John Olesen, MA, PAT, is a Psychodramatist living in Oakland, California 
and working at the L.I.F.E. (Learning Immune Function Enhancement) 
Program of the non-profit organization, Shanti, in San Francisco. He is 
past Chair of the National Board of Examiners for Group Psychotherapy 
and Psychodrama and was co-chair of the 2006 ASGPP Conference in San 
Francisco. He is a past recipient of the ASGPP Neil Passariello and 
Zerka T. Moreno Awards.

Elizabeth Plummer, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist (CA 19690) 
and a nationally certified clinical practitioner of psychodrama/ trainer 
applicant (CP/PAT). Dr. Plummer has taught psychodrama at conferences 
around the country. She is the founder and director of The Santa Barbara 
Psychodrama Center, teaches at Antioch University, and has a private 
practice in Santa Barbara.

Jo Sopko, MFT (MFC38054), a Registered Drama Therapist, has used 
Sandtray for over 15 years both clinically and in education. She was 
Trauma Specialist at Homeward Bound of Marin where she specialized in 
working with homeless children and families. She is adjunct faculty at 
the California Institute of Integral Studies , teaching clinical 
supervision for The Expressive Arts Therapy Program . She uses 
mindfulness practice and meditation in her work, and is dedicated to the 
use of art as a powerful tool toward healing. She has a private practice 
in Marin and San Francisco.