psychotherapy

[Adam Blatner]

Hi Peter, your mention of the short-cut therapies are interesting, because I think in many cases they work, and that requires some consideration: Having been to a workshop or two, I think what we're talking about is the power of hypnosis, suggestion, placebo effect, explanation plus charisma, belief. These can lift people---at least for a while. They can clear the sense of burden, worry, as the mind aligns with the new affirmation or imagery. Note: No introspection or need to take stock of oneself is needed; no step 4, fearless moral inventory. It's a not-particularly-introspective approach. And that's all lots of folks want.
       I've become inclined to think that my cultural sub-group that appreciates psychological-mindedness represents a minority. Most folks find thinking about thinking (meta-cognition) to be laced with shame, guilt, and further shame because it's hard to do without becoming confused. Consciousness seems to be something that is more interesting to change only when one has gotten fairly good at it, and few therapies actually teach the art of introspection as a skill set.
       Part of the problem involves building up a rich supportive meaning-making sub-program, one that explains why you're okay with your many faults, because of the bigger picture---especially if you're on any sort of path towards self-improvement. 
      But I've come to agree with weird ol' Fritz Perls' statement that most people don't want to stop being neurotic; they just want to get better at it. Alas, at least a third of the people on anti-depressant meds I suspect are using the meds in this way.

       Moreno's work involves a bit more edge, a commitment to become more creative. That does shake things up a bit. 

You mention Kate's bit in Handbook of Psychodrama. Lest readers confuse Kate Bradshaw-Tauvon, the author of that chapter in 1998--- a nice review of Morenian principles---and, say, Kate Kirk, or Kate Hudgins, or others,  I thought I'd make that more explicit. So what is this draft and have you expanded it more? Is it an article or a book? 
        Because as much as I critique both Moreno and those who would idealize him, attributing virtues not in evidence, I also grant him the status of "greatness," which, as I mean it, refers to his having generated a goodly number of ideas that continue to be powerful sources for further contemplation, elaboration, and practical application---aside from all sorts of methods and broader ideas, just this list is fun to think about. I've been contemplating new frontiers for the concept of encounter, for example. 

Well, thanks for your thoughts... By the way, I'm not sure Moreno was friends with Carl Whitaker or that other fellow. There was a bit of cross influence, but I remember Carl brusquely suggesting to Zerka that she let Moreno go - - this was at a conference in 1985 called "The Evolution of Psychotherapy" in Phoenix, AZ. 

     How can I encourage your digging deeper into what you think about those principles Kate mentions?  Warmly, Adam

      
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Peter Howie 
  To: Adam Blatner 
  Cc: grouptalk Listserv 
  Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 7:15 PM
  Subject: Re: [IAGP:PSYCHODRAMA] wherefore Morenian Work?


  Dear Adam,


  Here I sit supposedly getting ready for our Australian and New Zealand Psychodrama Association executive meeting prior to our conference in Sydney, which unfortunately is now fully booked out and bursting at the seams. With Yaacov Naor running a pre-conference workshop and some sessions, and heaps of other good stuff.


  So with no time on my hands let me craft a few quick responses. 


  I am with the thrust of what you are saying and encouraging us to do. And....


  I also think there is a more powerful argument  or a more powerful process for arguing for these methods. I think I think in this way because I am presented, on a daily basis, with the "answer" in one or other forms of therapy, social discourse, 
  social experiment, social necessity, truth and versions thereof. This last week I ran into two new therapies, both of which cure people of emotional blockages without the need to examine the reasons for those blockages. RAW and EFT. Rekindled Ancient Wisdom and Emotional Freedom Techniques. So I need to know what makes what I do significant or at individuates it from a plethora of other things available. Here are some draft thoughts:


  The techniques are a direct result of the application of certain principles. It is these principles that can better be presented and worked with. This then will lead to a wider application of Morenian thinking to a wider range of applications. What are these principles? Mostly I am thinking about ones like those listed in Kate's book on Psychodrama : 1) The warming up principle 2) Creativity 3) Spontaneity 4) encounter 5) tele 6) co-conscious and co-unconscious 7) role 8) role vs ego 9) role reversal and 10) action (p 30  The Handbook of Psychodrama). putting asied the language and getting with the language from a Morenian perspective I don't believe these are replicated, except in part, in other frameworks and methodologies.


  My solution, intellectually, is to view these principles as part of a meta-process (a process that incorporates or includes other processes). Given this there is no need to compete with other ideas but to incorporate where required or where trained to do so. I use the Whitaker and Lieberman group focal conflict model a bit - does everyone have to. Did Moreno (apart from being friends with them)? The Morenian methodologies, or psychodrama which is often used to include all Morenian thought, have plenty of room to incorporate other ideas and wisdom. But that doesn't necessarily compete with these other ideas. Most ideas are an approximation of reality anyway. (The rest aren't even an approximation :) ). I find that the idea of warming up, in groups, individually, between people, in relationships, in encounter is a very powerful idea. And it, generally, doesn't exclude other ideas. 


  So here is my draft thinking so far on this topic. 


  Cheers and back to the work


  Peter




  On 15/01/2010, at 9:34 AM, Adam Blatner wrote:


    Question: Is this a welcome idea or one that is too radical? 
    Psychodrama as a field may have become overly identified with the method of classical psychodrama as a form of group psychotherapy itself, whereas it really represents a very broad complex of concepts and techniques---e.g., role theory, sociometry, sociodrama, axiodrama, philosophy of creativity, spontaneity development, imagination development, role playing in management training and education, the living newspaper and overlaps with other types of applied theatre, and so forth. Each of these contributions of Moreno can and should be developed further---Moreno was the seminal thinker, but his work as a cultural conserve should not be relied on as representing the "finished product."
    Although classical psychodrama is a natural epitome of synergy of many of many of Moreno's tools---just as Grand Opera is a synergy of song melody writing, orchestration, lyrics, melody, song performance, dance, staging, stage-set design, etc.---yet each of these components can also be used separately, and they retain significant value this way, also.

    With this spirit I want to propose our field move in several directions. First, psychodramatic methods and concepts can be integrated with other types of therapy, rather than continuing the mid-20th century tradition of feeling a need to choose and then remain loyal or constrained to only one "school" of therapy. 

    Second, these concepts and methods transcend the therapeutic concept and need to be applied in many other cultural settings---education, business, government, religion, clubs, general education, personal development, etc. Warmly, ADam Blatner

    [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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