Psychodrama With Trauma Survivors

In a world where natural, social and political disasters are a daily reality, the therapist is increasingly called upon to find rapid and effective methods of treating the survivors of trauma, including sexual abuse, torture, war-related trauma, addiction, depression and bereavement. The contributors to this book provide persuasive evidence of how psychodrama can safely be used to create paths of change for even the most severe traumatization and they also discuss the possible transmission of trauma patterns across generations. Research following World War II, neurobiological studies and other recent research into PTSD has shown that many trauma symptoms are unconscious, non-verbal, right-brained experiences which cannot be accessed through talk therapy. Psychodrama creates a place to act out unprocessed trauma within the containment of therapy, in order to stop the obsessive repetition of the past.Psychodrama with Trauma Survivors documents the impact of trauma and explores the development of treatment, providing integrated models of experiential treatment for clinicians to use. It is an invaluable resource for those interested in psychodrama and those working with trauma survivors.

Therapeutic Spiral Model (TSM) psychodrama is an innovative three stage system of clinically modified psychodrama to treat trauma safely and effectively. This book presents the theoretical evolution of the Therapeutic Spiral Model from a Western model of early trauma-informed therapy to the worldwide system of experiential change that it is today. This book demonstrates the anchor of classical psychodrama theory and methods modified by clinical observations and awareness of current theories about trauma and how it effects the brain, See the evolution from 1992 to its present structures. It provides an accessible practice manual of using TSM psychodrama to promote trauma recovery in many cultures, countries, languages and settings. It presents a unique clinical map for intra-psychic experiential trauma therapy connecting classical psychodrama to TSM psychodrama. It demonstrates psychological concepts like projective identification and information from neurobiology for trauma repair in individual and group settings with action methods. The book shows easy-to-understand visual images such as trauma bubbles, therapeutic spirals and the autonomous healing center to help communicate internal states of spontaneity. The authors draw on their own rich experiences teaching TSM psychodrama in the global community and share stories of people’s recovery around the world. The audience for this publication includes trainers, practitioners, psychotherapists, trauma workers, and researchers working in a broad array of disciplines and human services.

Time does not heal all wounds: decades after a disaster, entire communities may still experience the long-term effects of trauma. Sociodrama and Collective Trauma examines the psychological and social damage of trauma to society as a whole. Kellermann argues that collective trauma has been insufficiently considered; his timely book suggests practical ways of facilitating the rehabilitation of survivors of collective trauma through, for example, sociodrama and related group work. The author develops methods for understanding the past and preparing for the future and provides a wealth of case studies based on 30 years' experience of treating survivors of war trauma and other forms of disaster. Combining a systematic theoretical approach with a practical methodology, this insightful book is invaluable for drama therapists, group therapists, mental health professionals and counsellors.

This book provides an accessible introduction to the Therapeutic Spiral Model in practice, describing how it works, its relationship with classical psychodrama, neurobiology, experiential psychotherapy and clinical psychology, how it differs from other experiential methods and how it has been used with diverse populations and in different cultures.

'With the increasing probability of floods, wars, and human displacement, there will be a great need for health care professionals to help. The arts provide a new, human, and cost-effective way to bring relief and to ease some of the human suffering associated with trauma.The editor, Lois Carey, presents a compelling rationale for the use of the arts therapies to work with trauma. First, it is now clear that traumatized children have difficulty using words to describe their experience. Drawing, play, music and other creative forms allow for an indirect expression that reduces anxiety, and they also help to establish a therapeutic relationship and an area of safety. The same is true for traumatized adults, who are often nonverbal... this book can be a beginning of much-needed documentation of the use of the expressive arts methods for trauma survivors and will provide a significant and useful introduction to the field for health professionals.' - PsycCRITIQUES 'I think the descriptions of the methods are interesting and they show a lot of experience in the field of trauma-treatment. It is a well written, very readable book of the practice.' -Tijdschrift voor Vaktherapie (Journal of Therapy) 'This book throws more light on different expressive and creative arts methods in the treatment of trauma. In detailed case studies and research, the authors offer an overview of creative arts methods aiming at brain functions which are not always being reached by verbal therapy alone.' -Tijdschrift voor Vaktherapie (Journal of Therapy) 'The authors use a rich mix of interesting case material and useful explanation of the techniques for the uninitiated.' - Therapy Today 'A very good job of promoting the use of expressive arts therapy to complement talking therapies and achieve results that talking therapy cannot.' - Play Therapy UK 'If you are a parent, dealing daily with the effects of traumatised children, and especially finding it difficult to firstly access specialist therapy and secondly to understand the principles in relation to your child, then this book will give you a clear understanding of the aims and outcomes of therapies which may be on offer.' - www.adoption-net.co.uk Expressive and Creative Arts Methods for Trauma Survivors demonstrates how play, art, and music therapies, as well as sandplay, psychodrama and storytelling, can be used to aid the recovery of trauma victims. Drawing on detailed case studies and a growing body of evidence of the benefits of non-verbal therapies, the contributors-all leading practitioners in their fields-provide an overview of creative therapies that tap into sensate aspects of the brain not always reached by verbal therapy alone. Methods of exploring traumatic experiences with a view to limiting patients' distress are also explored. The techniques discussed are appropriate for work with children, families and groups and are based on established approaches, including Jungian, Child-centred, Gestalt and Freudian theories. Expressive and Creative Arts Methods for Trauma Survivors will be an enlightening read for expressive and specialized arts therapists and for students and academics in these fields.

"This book introduces something substantially new...original, clinically valid and well-thought out ideas which have been extensively ëtestedí in workshops conducted internationally over the last decade...a great book!" Adam Blatner, MD The author presents the Therapeutic Spiral Model (TSM), a systematic modification of Psychodrama, for therapists working with people who are suffering from severe trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder. A step-by-step guide for using experiential methods safely, the author first explains the theoretical foundations of TSM, research and theories on trauma, and experiential psychotherapy as a basis for understanding its development. Throughout, clinical action structures and advanced intervention modules for using experiential methods are presented. Each chapter contains active vignettes and case examples to demonstrate the process and progress of the spiral technique.

This book presents trauma-informed principles for ethical, safe, and effective group work, psychodrama, and leadership. Content will include practical guidelines, detailed instructions, and diverse examples for facilitating both trauma-informed and trauma-focused groups in treatment, community, and organizational leadership. Chapters focus on various topics including safety, empowerment, social justice, vicarious trauma, and leadership. Organizational leadership is approached through the lens of SAMHSA’s guidance and the framework of group work leadership. The book includes significant focus on sociometry and psychodrama as strengths-based and experiential group approaches. Psychodrama’s philosophies, theories, and interventions will be articulated through a trauma-informed lens offering psychodramatists, group workers, and organizational leaders new conceptual frameworks and action-based processes. Chapters contain a blend of theory, research, practical guidance, and examples from the author’s experience. This book will appeal to group workers, therapists, psychodramatists, creative arts therapists, organizational leaders, trainers, facilitators, supervisors, community organizers, and graduate students. This book offers group facilitators the insight and tools to lead engaging and meaningful groups. The potential for retraumatizing participants is addressed while promoting trauma-informed practice as an ethical imperative.

This book is a useful reference for anyone seeking to provide therapy to survivors of sexual abuse. The approach represented here is a holistic one that utilizes various approaches to heal the various manifestations of sexual abuse trauma. Since the acts associated with such abuse are often so difficult to discuss, this book presents several methods of communicating these unspeakable horrors nonverbally, allowing the survivor to express their trauma with less difficulty. This approach seeks to use the actions of the body to heal the mind. This text contains information relevant to treatment for children, adolescents, and adults, as well as male or female, and in group or individual settings. Many useful activities are outlined and illustrations are provided as examples.