Inaugural visit to Chennai, India

Sue Daniel conducted a series of workshops in Chennai from 7-18 December 2012.  The collaboration for this ongoing project is between the IAGP and the East West Center for Counselling and Training, with Magdalene Jeyarathnam, Director of EWCCT.   

Sue led three workshops: 1) A Three-Day Experiential Process Group: Through the Mirror, from 7-9 December, 2) A Three-Day Psychodrama Training Group: Developing New Perspectives from 10-12 December and, 3) A Five-Day Intensive Psychodrama Training Workshop: Being in the Here and Now from 14-18 December, the latter comprising part of an Expressive Arts Therapy (EAT) Diploma course between the Women's Christian College, University of Madras and the East West Center for Counselling and Training. 

In addition to the workshops, Sue gave 5 Lecture/Demonstrations on Psychodrama, Sociometry, Sociodrama, Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes on the 13th and 17th of December at the following Colleges and Universities: 1) Department of Psychology, Women's Christian College (WCC), University of Madras, 2) Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Sciences for Women, 3) The Madras School of Social Work (MSSW), 4) Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) and, 5) Justice Basheer Ahmed Syeed College for Women (JBASCW).   

The organisation for all of these activities and the generosity of the following people was most appreciated by Sue: Dr. Veena Easvaradoss, Head of Department of Psychology (WCC), Dr. Lydia Eric, Head of Department of Psychology (MGR), Dr. Sheela Hemalatha Julius, Head of Department of Counselling Psychology (MSSW), Mrs Rachel Kabi (ADBU), Dr. R. Subashini, Head of Department of Psychology (JBASCW) and, Magdalene Jeyarathnam and staff of EWCCT.

A Brief History of PIM, PIA and MPS - 2001 to today

In May 2001, Sue Daniel (TEP) established a new training institute in Melbourne, Australia.  The Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne (PIM) provides ongoing training in Morenian Psychodrama.  PIM and her sister institute, PIA (the Psychodrama Institute of Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand) come under the Australian and and Aotearoa Board of Psychodrama (AABP).  The Board and the Institutes are all entities within the Moreno Psychodrama Society.  This Society developed with the encouragement of Zerka Moreno.

Sue also created a new Board of Psychodrama in 2001 – re-named the Australian and Aotearoa Board of Psychodrama in 2003.  The reason she chose the name ‘Aotearoa’ over ‘New Zealand’ was that two of PIM’s trainees (sisters, Lethe and Katrina Gaskin) from New Zealand are Maori.  Both are founding members of the Moreno Psychodrama Society and Lethe is a member of the Board of Psychodrama (AABP).  A few years later this Maori word for New Zealand (Aotearoa) was added to the AANZPA organization, which had originated in 1980 in Australia.   Sue was a president of ANZPA for four years (1990-1994).

The Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne has 36 accredited psychodramatists with the Board (AABP).  The PIM library, (named the ‘Zerka Moreno Library’), has over 100 articles written by these and other trainees.  Several of the articles have been published in journals of various psychodrama societies; the ASGPP, BPA, ANZPA, Korea, Italy, and in the Forum (Journal of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes).  Sue has two chapters in International books, “Psychodrama: Advances in Theory and Practice”, edited by Clark Baim, Jorge Burmeister and Manuela Maciel and “Supervision in Psychodrama: Experiential Learning in Psychotherapy and Training”, edited by Hannes Krall, Jutta Furst and Pierre Fontaine.  Ioanna Gagani (the first accredited psychodramatist with AABT) has a chapter in “Communicating with Children and Adolescents: Action for Change” edited by Anne Bannister and Annie Huntington.  Zerka Moreno’s DVD’s, books and articles written over a lifetime are appreciated by all as precious gifts.

PIM has a vibrant website with many links and references:

www.psychodrama-institute-melbourne.com

Since these institutes, board and society are based on Morenian principles, the trainers and practitioners use sociometry in their meetings and groups, in board meetings and conferences.  The trainees in PIM and PIA come from all walks of life and have professional backgrounds in a range of disciplines using psychodrama, for example, in research, education, organisations, psychotherapy, counselling, early childhood education, forensic and criminal justice system and in the community.  Sue has worked in over 32 countries and is instrumental in developing psychodrama programs worldwide.  Her work in Japan for example began in 1986 and continues today.  PIM has supported many people and organisations in their growth and in the development of psychodrama, group psychotherapy and group work.  Trainees and practitioners travel and work in countries such as Bangladesh, Greece, India and Japan.

Sue Daniel

19 February 2013

Theatre of Spontaneity, 24 February 2013: Exploring the Moon

"Exploring the Moon."

The moon has long been regarded as a feminine symbol, it controls the tides of the oceans, the spawning time of coral on the Great Barrier Reef and probably a lot of other similar things we don't know about yet.
The moon is featured in romantic images of a sexual kind in our culture, especially where it is also seen reflecting in the sea or other water.

We also have the idea of the "lunatic" and the NASA moon landings and did someone once promise you the moon ? 
We'll use this theme for our lift-off for the first Theatre of Spontaneity of the year, Sunday 24 February 2013.

Gavin O'Loughlin is our presenter for the first evening of Theatre of Spontaneity, Sunday, 24 February 2013.  He is a Psychodrama-Assistant and nearing the completion of his training as a psychodramatist at the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne.  Gavin first become involved in Psychodrama in 1982 in Adelaide and found the method and the communities of people involved as very valuable supports, offering great learning opportunities over three decades.  He has worked mainly in the youth justice field.
 
Details for this event:
Gather together for a cup of tea or coffee from 6 p.m for a 6.30 p.m sharp start at the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, 155 Langridge St, Collingwood.

$20.00 ($15.00 MPS Members) SUPPER provided! 

RSVP by Friday, 15 February 2013 to Gavin O'Loughin 0403 597 685

www.psychodrama-institute-melbourne.com