Lethe & Katarina Gaskin (Aotearoa/New Zealand) Two-Day Training Workshop

The Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne

Presents a

Psychodrama Training Workshop

Sunday & Monday, 6 & 7 May 2012 from 10.00 a.m - 5.30 p.m

with Lethe Gaskin and Katarina Gaskin

Tu - Ahua

I stand fully in my spirit; you stand fully in your spirit

Tu  Taua

We stand with each other, readied for all. *

A weekend workshop deepening the openness of the Psychodrama Director - Deepening my presence with my self, and my presence with the group and with the protagonist of the drama. This workshop is for those who are seeking to develop their ability as directors to be open, life-filled and creative. It is suitable for trainees in the psychodrama method, and is also applicable to those who counsel, and those who facilitate, teach, or lead groups. Tihei Mauriora!

*Tu - Ahua (Too ah-hoo - a) and Tu Taua (Too toe - wa).

Fee: $350.00 ($300.00 for PIM trainees and MPS members) 
(Dep. $50.00 due by Thursday, 26 April with final payment due on the day) 
Venue: Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, 155 Langridge St, Collingwood

      
The Trainers: Kia ora, my name is Lethe Gaskin (Maori name, Eriha).  My life journey took me from Whanganui, (Ngati Tuwharetoa are my people) to Melbourne working as a psychotherapist, psychodramatist, supervisor and trainer.  I now live in New Zealand on the Kapiti Coast.  I am a psychologist and the Kaiaarahi (Director) of the Psychodrama Institute of Aotearoa.  I am a founding member of the Moreno Psychodrama Society and I enjoy a position as a member of the Australian and Aotearoa Board of Psychodrama.

Katarina Gaskin is a Psychodramatist, Counsellor, Mother, Grandmother, Sister and Daughter.  Katrina is the Kaiāwhina (Assistant Director) of the Psychodrama Institute of Aotearoa (PIA).  She is living in Levin, New Zealand.

For further details or to register please contact: PIM (03) 9416 3779

For all applications please send a letter with your details and a cheque for $300.00 (for PIM trainees and practitioners or MPS members only, otherwise $350.00) payable to:

PIM: PO Box 371, East Melbourne 8002

Clark Baim (UK) Seminar at PIM

Clark Baim with Jinnie Jeffries

The Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne


Presents a half day workshop entitled

'Using Psychodrama with Violent and Sexually Aggressive Offenders.'

Friday May 11, 2012 from 2 – 5 p.m

Leader: Clark Baim, UK

This experiential workshop will introduce participants to a strategic application of psychodrama in a series of progressive levels of intervention that has been successfully used with people who have a history of violent or sexually aggressive behaviour. This includes people who have committed domestic violence, other forms of violent crime, and harmful sexual behaviour of all kinds. Clark Baim will draw from his recent chapter on working with these issues in an upcoming book, 'Psychodrama on the front Lines: Global applications of the Therapeutic Spiral Model'. The workshop will be relevant to anyone who works with at-risk populations or people who act out against others, in criminal justice, mental health, family support/intervention or social care settings.

Date: Friday, May 11 from 2 – 5 p.m.                              

Tea, coffee, and afternoon tea is supplied.

Clark Baim, M.Ed., Dip. Psychodrama Psychotherapy has twenty years of experience as a group leader and trainer. He is the Co-Director of the Birmingham Institute for Psychodrama. Clark is a psychotherapist and a Senior Trainer with the British Psychodrama Association. In 1987 he established and served as the first Director of Geese Theatre UK, using applied drama in criminal justice settings. He worked as a group psychotherapist for five years at HM Prison Grendon, UK. Clark is Co-Lead National Trainer for the Probation Service’s Sexual Offending Groupwork Programmes in England and Wales. He is the co-editor of several books and author of numerous chapters and articles on various aspects of psychotherapy, attachment theory, offender treatment, and supervision and groupwork methods.

For all details please contact the PIM office on (03) 94163779

Eric Searle Seminar Series, Friday 18 May. Speaker: Lorraine Michael

On Friday 18 May, Lorraine Michael (Psychodramatist) is the speaker for the Eric Searle Seminar at St Vincent's Hospital.  She will be talking about her work conducting 'The Theatre of Life' in this public hospital.  For those who want to have lunch, please arrive by 12 o'clock.  The talk starts at 12.30 p.m sharp and concludes at 1.30 p.m.

Where? 2nd Floor, Psyche Building, 46 Nicholson St, Fitzroy.

Lorraine is also writing about her work and we've published one article in this newsletter (See to the right under the section on 'Writing').  You may leave comments for Lorraine and also if you have writing yourself and would like to see it published on the blog, let us know. 

Lorraine Michael

Announcing the forthcoming...

WORLD PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS 2012 – PRAGUE, OCT 17^TH-21^ST

Lorraine Michael is proud to announce that the 2 abstracts she had written for this conference, have been accepted.

The themes of the Conference are Access, Quality & Humane Care.

For those of you who are interested to know more about the papers that Lorraine is presenting at the conference she is only too happy to discuss her abstracts.

Title 1: The 11^th commandment: ‘Thou shalt not have any clinical role with this client’.

Title 2: ‘Providing access to quality clinical service within an acute public psychiatric setting: A fundamental principle of humane care’.

Details of Abstracts:

Title 1: The 11^th commandment: ‘Thou shalt not have any clinical role with this client’.

Aims/Objectives

This paper examines the functions of professional autonomy and multi-disciplinary teams, as they relate to clinical decisions around client-centred practice. Through the illustration of a vignette, the author demonstrates how she responds to a directive to discontinue clinical work with a client. Using her core roles of Clinician (Psychodramatist; Systems Thinker), Sociometrist, and auxiliary role of Double, she orchestrates a meeting with the organization’s executive management. A discussion paper is presented to them to generate discussion around the core systemic issues implicit in such a directive, and in this, broader ethical implications for access, quality and humane care – both clients’ and clinicians’ (a parallel process). This paper aims to illuminate the importance of prizing humanistic principles, particularly in mental health; not as some ideal held in isolation, but as an ethic to continually strive for and be committed to as a living tenet. It is in this spirit that this paper is presented.

Method

Psychodramatic Framework

Results

A strong mandate for clear and informed clinical decision-making processes within the context of multi-disciplinary teams.

Conclusion

This paper celebrates human-centred values in our work and relationships with people.

Educational Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, participants will have an increased understanding of:

1.    a systems perspective to effecting change;

2.  the issues of access, quality and humane care as ethical dimensions in clinical practice.

  

References:

1.    Chopra, D. (2010). The soul of leadership: Unlocking your potential for greatness. USA: Harmony Books.

2.    Jones, D. (2001). Sociometry in team and organisational development. The British Journal of Psychodrama and Sociodrama, 16, 69-78.

3.    Moreno, J. L. (1959). Psychodrama and group psychotherapy, Vol. 2. USA: Beacon House Inc.

Title 2: ‘Providing access to quality clinical service within an acute public psychiatric setting: a fundamental principle of humane care’.

Aims/Objectives

     Psychotherapy, at the best of times, is seen as a luxury for the ‘elite few’, the ‘worried well’. In acute psychiatry, such an area of speciality is deemed a futile endeavour given clients’ ‘manic’or ‘psychotic’ states. This paper argues that if we are to promote a humanising element within the field, the core function of attending to fundamental concerns of humane care needs to be prioritised and mirrored in the provision of treatment options like psychotherapy – particularly, as people with acute mental health issues are often unlikely to afford such a service elsewhere within the system. The author describes how in one acute public psychiatric setting in Victoria (the only to date), Psychodrama and clinical formulations from a Psychodramatic perspective reaffirm our ‘warm-up’ to the person that is in the forefront of the work together, not some ‘case’.

 Method: Psychodrama

Results:  The intervention and formulations emphasize a person’s humanity not their illness; ‘understanding explaining’ not ‘explaining understanding’; learning how a person copes, survives, and that we all have an innate capacity to thrive.

  

Conclusion

This paper celebrates the importance of relating mutually as people in the ‘here-and-now’ –it  is this that is deeply healing and promotes change.

Educational Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, participants will have an increased understanding of:

1.  How psychodramatic formulations can offer a unique epistemological        dimension to the care and treatment of acutely unwell people;

2.    The importance of the ‘human element’ in acute psychiatry.

References:

1. Breggin, P. R., & Stern, M.E. (Eds.). (1996). Psychosocial approaches to deeply disturbed persons. The Hawthorn Press, Inc.

2.  Deikman, A., & Whitake, L. (1979). Humanizing a psychiatric ward: changing from drugs to psychotherapy. Psychotherapy theory, research and practice, 16(2), 204-214.

3.  Moreno, J. L. (1959). Psychodrama and group psychotherapy, Vol. 2. USA: Beacon House Inc.

Psychodrama in Hobart

Helen Fryer's Choir Group singing at the Farmer's market, Hobart, 18 March 2012

On the 19th of March I conducted a workshop in Hobart with the assistance of Helen Fryer and Joan Murray. The workshop 'Through the Mirror: Role Theory in Action' attracted a nice group of people interested in psychodrama.
When I arrived in Hobart I found Helen singing with her choir at the Farmer's Market.

A little later we went over to the venue where Helen has established 'A Potential Space Counselling Service' in Melville Street and met up with Joan.  The next few hours saw us contentedly setting up our group space; rolling out carpet, spreading Helen's lovely scarves on a ballet bar, setting up the cups for our refreshments and Joan creating some beautiful flower arrangements.  Next door is the site of the first church in Australia, 1839 if I remember correctly.

Next door to where we had our Group is the first church building in Australia

In the afternoon Helen and I visited the new and very modern MOMA, an art gallery with a difference.  It is situated deep within the earth, in this case the sandstone earth of Hobart, which you can get to by a central glass lift or by a spiral staircase.  The outside of the gallery blends in beautifully with the surrounding nature of sea, trees and mountains.

MOMA Hobart's new modern Art Gallery

A different kind of tyre - MOMA Exhibition, March 2012

On Tuesday night, 17 April, Helen and Joan are conducting their first training seminar leading on from our one-day event, which they've called 'Into the Mirror'.  People from the original group are attending with some other invited guests.  I wish them well in this endeavour.

Sue Daniel

Bessel van der Kolk in Melbourne, March 28 & 29

Bessel van der Kolk, M.D was recently in Melbourne, conducting a two day workshop entitled 'Frontiers of Trauma Treatment'.  He is described as an ardent pioneer and worldleader in the research and treatment of trauma informing new ways of treating clients suffering multiple psychologoical traumas (complex trauma).  He spoke about the use of body therapies such as psychodrama and the use of yoga as being effective for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.  Here he is posing in front of one of his powerpoint presentations.

Dragon Boats

Gavin O'Loughlin is a passionate dragon boat racer.  This is but one of his roles.  He is also in charge of the Theatre of Spontaneity in 2012.  Here is Gavin at a recent Dragon Boating event on the Yarra River in Melbourne:

There are all kinds of warm ups...

Recently in a training workshop at PIM, mask painting was used as a warm up to a very special psychodrama and sociodrama.  An enjoyable time was had by all.  The group members share (by enthusiastic agreement) three of our rather spectacular masks:

Theatre of Spontaneity, Sunday, March 25

Theatre of Spontaneity

Sunday March 25

 Gather at 6 p.m for a 6.30 p.m start

155 Langridge Street, Collingwood

$20.00 ($15.00 for MPS Members)

The 3 Rs

A Psychodramatic exploration of

Reflection

Resilience

&

Relationship

Leader: John De Bono

THROUGH THE MIRROR: ROLE THEORY IN ACTION

A psychodrama workshop for professionals in counselling, health and human services, and the creative arts

The Workshop
Psychodrama is a creative way of exploring the world of individuals, families and organisations using action methods and spontaneous drama. The concept of roles and development of new roles is the basis of psychodrama and in this workshop the application of role theory will be presented through teaching, demonstration and group interaction. Role theory can be used in many settings of psychotherapy, education, organisations, and in everyday relationships. It is a creative and enlivening framework in which the use of imagination is central. The purpose of this workshop is for people to experience psychodrama and to develop skills to apply the framework of role theory in their work and life. 

When: Monday 19th March 9am-­‐3pm (Coffee and registration 8.30 am)
Where: Wesley Seminar Room 58 Melville St Hobart (next to Hobart Central car park)
Cost: $140pp lunch included
($120pp for groups of 2 or more from same organization) CPD accreditation points for APS, AASW and AHPRA 

Workshop Leader
Sue Daniel is a psychodramatist, psychologist and psychotherapist in private practice, the Director of the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, Founder of the Moreno Psychodrama Society and Chairperson of the Australian and Aotearoa (New Zealand) Board of Psychodrama. Sue is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy. She is an international trainer, educator and practitioner and she conducts workshops and seminars in communities, institutes and organizations worldwide. Sue’s writing on psychodrama has been published in books and journals. 

Workshop Auxiliary
Helen Fryer is a psychodramatist trained through the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne and is a founding member of the Moreno Psychodrama Society. She has taught in tertiary institutions in Melbourne and Hobart. She is a mental health Social Worker in private practice in Hobart and runs supervision groups, dream groups as well as individual counselling. She works part time as a grief and loss counsellor at the Royal Hobart Hospital. 

For registration or further information contact
Helen Fryer
A Potential Space Counselling Service 58 Melville St Hobart
0362473499 0402029069 Email: apotentialspace@bigpond.com

Theatre of Spontaneity - 26 February 2012

Theatre of Spontaneity on Sunday 26 Feb. 

Led by Gavin O’Loughlin

Nature and Us.

We are natural.  At the material level we take in air, food, water and more from the natural environment and we exhale, excrete and are active, moving about and using natural materials.  We evolved from and in the natural world.  Various cultures have developed myths out of this and ideas such as Ying and Yang have emerged.

At the intangible or non-material level we might say that there is another give and take also going on between us and the natural environments that we are present in.  What might we discover about this?  What might be the flow of influences, effects and responses in this mutual relationship with nature?

We'll explore this theme with some small group discussion then move into some exploration in action together.  We can range as widely as people feel moved to do.

Time and Place:  PIM, 155 Langridge Street, Collingwood, gather at 6 p.m for 6.30 p.m start.  Concludes 8.30 p.m.  Light supper included.

Fee: $20.00 ($15.00 MPS members)

RSVP Gavin O'Loughlin 0403 597 685