"The God Player" - A Talk by Jonathan Moreno

We are delighted to announce that Jonathan Moreno will be in Melbourne, just after Easter and will be presenting a talk at PIM on Friday, 5 April.

"The God Player" is chapter one of his intellectual biography of JL Moreno concentrating on JL's early years.

Jonathan is a David and Lyn Silfen University Professor, Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy and of History and Sociology of Science and a Professor of Philosophy (by courtesy) at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.  He is also the son of JL Moreno and Zerka T. Moreno.   

Fee: $20.00 ($15.0 for MPS members and PIM trainees)

Date: Friday, 5 April 2013

Time: Gather at 7 p.m for commencement at 7.30 p.m sharp.

Supper will be served.

RSVP is essential and best by Thursday 28 March.

PIM office: 9416 3779 or the Administrator: 0410 536 791

JL

Zerka T. Moreno

New Horizons

Four Non Blonds in their song What’s going on wrote “twenty five years and my life is still, trying to get up that great big hill of hope to a destination”. This song has been ringing in my ears recently.

For almost twenty five years drugs have been in my family. And everyday we’ve grappled with the great big hill of hope, hope for a life free of drugs, hope for a life free of anxiety of what will happen, hope for a life free of harm. It’s been a very long journey.

The journey started without us, but we were very soon travelling companions. There were small signs/ steps initially; the anger, the arguments; the holes in the wall, things going missing, he went missing. Burgulary, violence, death, prison.  An avalanche of anger, fear and despair. Would he survive, would we survive?

Do we cut ties, let him go on his path alone? Do we hang in, how do we hang in? How do we hold onto hope?

We grappled with acceptance, grappled with harm minimisation, grappled with acceptable boundaries, grappled with responsibility, grappled with pain and we grappled with guilt. What helped was thinking about and experiencing his many roles.  Loyal defender, humorous comedian, creative cook.

Psychodrama and PIM has been my belayer, my safety harness.  No matter how tenuous my grip on hope, I’ve been held. As we’ve climbed the hill or crashed down, you’ve been my companion.

You’ve helped me sustain myself and maintain my belief in the power of relationship, the power of connection.

For the first time in 25 years his eyes are clear, vivid, sparkling, determined. I’d not realised how clouded they’ve been until now.

The power of relationship; the power of purpose; the power of a new life in the family; the role of father;  the joy of a daughter. He’s thrown out his bong, gone cold turkey. His eyes are clear.

A decisive decision, to maintain his relationship with his daughter for now, for the future.  New emerging roles. Hope is strong.

Like the bear that went to the top of the mountain to see what he could see, it feels like we’re at the top of our hill looking at a new horizon. The journey isn’t over, but there’s a sense of new paths being taken, on a different side of the hill.

I am excited, I am proud. I have an amazing brother.

Anonymous 2013

Join the Caravan of Dreams, 6 April 2013

Marie Watt invites you to a whole sleeping world that can be awakened through playing psychodramatically with dream images...

When: Saturday, April 6, 2013 from 10 am - 5.30 pm

Fee: $175.00 or for MPS members and PIM and PIA and Tasmanian Trainees, $150.00

Bring along your dreams and some lunch to share.

All enquiries: PIM Office 03 9416 3779

Or contact our Administrator, Ted on pim@netspace.net.au

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

Best Wishes for the Christmas Season and a Happy New Year

The Moreno Psychodrama Society Committee extends to all members past, present and future the warmest of season’s greetings and best wishes for a healthy, happy 2013!

Some Happy People

Back Row: Hien Bui, Di Kearney, Hana Morris, Sue Daniel, Simon Parker.  Front Row: Sam Luxemburg, Clare O'Bree, Noa Weinstein, Jenny Gould, Marie Watt & John De Bono.  Photographer: Stephanie Lee

On Sunday, 11 November 2012,  Di Kearney and Jenny Gould conducted sessions respectively in the morning and the afternoon for their psychodrama practicums.  Both passed and are now accredited Psychodramatists with the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, the Moreno Psychodrama Society and the Australian and Aotearoa Board of Psychodrama. 

All the above, minus John De Bono (photographer) and including Stephanie Lee.

From Phil Smalley in England

Hi from Sunny Olde England (just joking, though it is sunny at the moment)

I arrived on Saturday at 5am (UK time); it was so much better travelling Premium Economy - more comfortable seats, wider and much more legroom, as well as delicious food.  Baggage collection and through Immigration in less than an hour.  I caught the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then the train to Bath, arriving around 9 am (3 hours before I could actually check in.  That meant going for a bit of a wander, buying a mobile phone, having breakfast and then back to Royal Park Guest House.  I have to confess that it took me 2 days to figure out how to use the mobile only to discover that I hadn't brought my brother and sister-in-law's phone number with me.  I had to email them to ask for it.  However, I eventually figured out how to ring them and had about a 20 minute chat.

Yesterday, I went to the Jane Austen Centre, which I very much enjoyed, followed by more walking (my legs and feet keep telling me how unfit I am).  My sleeping is still somewhat erratic, but I'm becoming more adjusted.  Today, I am taking it a bit easier.  I still haven't been to the Roman Baths, but I may do that tomorrow - you have to get there early in the day, as there are long queues after about 9.30.  I'll probably take a City Tour bus ride this afternoon.  I haven't taken many pictures yet (only 3 so far) but plan to take some more on the bus tour.  I'm so glad I have 5 nights in Bath (last year it was only 2) as I have more time to wander around and take in the old architecture as well as a leisurely stroll by the Avon River.

Well, time for some lunch, I think.

Cheers,

 

Phil Smalley

Dancing Clouds - Launch