Psychodrama +/- Intensive

Psychodrama is one of the most powerful and deeply transformative methods of drama therapy. The founder of psychodrama, Jacob Moreno in Vienna in the 1920s defined it as, “the science which explores the truth by dramatic methods.” Like many practices, over time, psychodrama has developed a “center” of practice, which in turn has encouraged many to explore the edges and margins - aspects that are related but perhaps somewhat more tangential and adjacent. This weekend will be devoted to both center and margins (the “+ / -“ ).

The center of psychodramatic practice is enacted with a group, whereby a director guides a participant (or “protagonist”) through a dramatic exploration of their psyche. Scenes of the past, present or future, conflicts and resolutions, and/or dynamics between inner parts, are all expressed through gesture, sound, movement and words and then mapped in physical space as participants (or “auxiliaries”) stand-in for parts or internalized others. The core method of psychodrama involves role reversals, whereby the protagonist oscillates dynamically between the roles in whatever scene they are exploring, thereby empathizing with their wild totality through dialogue. Directors typically guide a scene to not only repeat and reveal dynamics, but also to modify them, allowing trauma to be re-negotiated through the power of our collective imaginations. A typical psychodrama lasts anywhere from 30-120 minutes. This weekend we will explore this center by building up to doing full-length psychodramas, and also deconstructing the practice into exercises where participants can learn to practice the main techniques: role reversals, doubling, empty chair, etc.

The margins that we will be exploring modify some of the core components of psychodramatic practice, but retain the core emphasis on dramatic representation and exploration of one’s psyche. One margin that I am very invested in collectively exploring is one where we bridge the role of director and protagonist, thereby imbuing participants with increased agency over their own process of transformation. This will process will be aided by a practice called Fool Expression: a clowning adjacent parts work practice developed by Christie Animas and Franki Anderson. Another margin I am interested in is honing and sharpening is our ability to dramatically express parts or internalized others. To help with this I will bring in some clowning techniques, and techniques of signal amplification from Processwork. A third margin we will explore is one that moves psychodramatic practice closer towards emergence and group process. This will be brought in via a technique called Clearing that I have been developing inspired by Family Constellations, John Zorn’s Cobra and Theatre of the Oppressed.

The collective intention is that this weekend will provide us with a greater capacity to hold, nourish and beautify our psyches (the rich and dynamic breadth of images, voices, parts, internalized others, complexes, and archetypes) and provide renewed creative vitality and agency to play with these inner worlds together towards the collective goal of healing and self expression. This workshop is for all levels of experience: those who have never heard of psychodrama, those who are novices in dramatic-authentic expression, and those who are deeply familiar and experiences with these things. It is designed for therapists, or healing arts practitioners who want to learn a new techniques to add to their repertoire. And it is designed for those who want to transform, expand, and deepen into self expression (who may have a career totally unrelated to the therapeutic arts). Our weekend will be much more experiential than theoretical. Please come ready with an open mind and heart.

–🌾— PRACTICALS DETAILS —🌾–

Structure & Rough Schedule:
Friday 1:00-6:30pm Opening circle, Introductions, agreements, warm ups, sociometric games, first baby steps into psychodramatic practice.
Saturday 10:00am-6:30pm Deepening into practice [1 hour lunch break]
Sunday 11:00am-4pm More practice and exploration, integration, closing circle and reflection [no lunch break, bring snacks]

Accommodations & Transportation: The retreat will take place at Dancing Tree Sanctuary, a community land project and retreat center in Corbett OR which, "offers educational and transformational events that promote vibrant thriving life for ourselves, our communities, and all beings." Participants who live in Portland are welcome to either drive in for the workshop each day, or opt to sleep over. Accommodations include shared dorm room (simple sleeping arrangements on trifold futon mats), or camping. In both instances participants must bring their own supplies (tent, sleeping bag, pad, and/or linens). Linens can be rented for an additional fee. Participants are all required to bring their own food and there will be fridge access and simple kitchen for meal prep. We are not responsible for transportation to the event, but we will provide a rideshare document for participants to coordinate with each other and help those without cars get to the intensive.

Costs: Price is tiered based on 3 income levels. All prices are in USD. Please try to reasonably and honestly select the price that reflects your economic situation. If you are unable to find a price that is suitable for you, please get in touch. We are committed to covering our basic costs, while also making this possible for everyone who needs it.

EARLY BIRD (prior to June 12th): Financially Abundant $425 / Financially Secure 2 $350 / Financially Strained $275 / BIPOC $275
REGULAR PRICE (after June 12th): Financially Abundant $475 / Financially Secure 2 $400 / Financially Strained $325 / BIPOC $325
CAMPING: $20/night
DORM ROOM ACCOMMODATIONS: $50/night

Partial Attendance: All participants are required to arrive at 1pm on Friday for the opening circle. We encourage participants plan to stay for the entire time, however leaving early (if necessary) is possible.

Cancellation Policy: Refunds are available up to 30 days before the event - minus a $20 processing fee. After this time we are unable to provide a refund for the event.

Any questions? Please email: thedeepplayinstitute@gmail.com

Maximum # of Participants for the workshop is 15

NOTE ON EMOTIONAL REGULATION: Many of the practices we will explore are designed to cultivate vulnerability, with its pleasures and its hardships. The practices can surface conflict and hurt that might conventionally be quieted or minimized. It is common to experience triggers of past psychological wounds within this practice, and this should be accounted for as a possibility. The intimacy of these practices might be compared to the way one's deepest romantic relationships sometimes surface one's most challenging psychological material. The facilitators will use techniques to contain and care for what arises, but will not be able to provide ongoing care for emotional fallout. The invitation is to be watchful of one's own safety and opt out in little and big ways as needed, and to have emotional processing methods in place (such as therapy, meditation, journaling, processing with friends, etc) that can help you learn with and from what happens at the intensive.

About the Deep Play Institute The Deep Play Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to exploring life’s deepest questions through transformative play. DPI’s facilitators – therapists, artists, coaches, and philosophers – aim to use play to bring people into an experiential questioning of what it means to exist. Each program that DPI runs is a unique container, creatively constructed and inspired by practices that include: Gestalt therapy, Process Work, Psychodrama, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Tavistock Group Relations, Relational Psychoanalysis, Authentic Relating, Nonviolent Communication, Circling, coaching, performance art, contact improvisation, experimental theater, LARPs, surrealism, existential games, and various schools of meditation.

TESTIMONIALS
FROM PAST PSYCHODRAMA INTENSIVES

​"Aaron and The Deep Play Institute's Psychodrama workshop was a joyous, deep, uplifting experience. I felt both held in safety and able to expand my range."

"Aaron was a skilled facilitator and space holder. I felt myself go from feeling unsure and trepidatious about the weekend to feeling so much love, connection and safety by the end of the weekend. Aaron also taught us skills we can use on our own and with friends so we can integrate some of this work into our lives. I'd definitely recommend this workshop and look forward to attending more events with the Deep Play Institute."

"The facilitator of the Psychodrama Intensive did an excellent job of creating a safe environment to play, explore and dive deep. I learned some valuable tools to help support myself. I experienced a lot of compassion for others as I witnessed their challenges."

"Aaron creates a comfortable container for self and group exploration. He holds space for emergent expression and sensitive exploration. During the weekend intensive, there was a moment when I was in a role, got confused and panicked. I was able to say so and he was right there to help me get my bearings again. So grateful to get to explore my edge and psyche in a low pressure environment."

"This was a fantastic workshop! Seeing internal experiences and dialogues played out physically was revelatory, and showed me how our internal worlds can be powerfully explored in a group."