Psychodrama in Okinawa, Japan, September 2015

Sue Daniel and group members, Okinawa, September 2015

That Moment Called Now with Di Kearney, Lunchtime Reading Group at PIM

Reading Group 25 September 2015 - "that moment called now"

One of the perennially charming healing aspects of the practice of psychodrama is its ability to move the protagonist back and forth through time in the process of social atom repair. In this way "then"(past or future) becomes "now", and vice versa. 

The aim this month is to deepen discussion of this phenomenon of expanding the moment in psychodrama, and "time travelling", using as stepping stones an exploration of the complexity of how we think about time, and just how much is occurring in a moment. This has implications for many aspects of a psychodrama: group and individual warm-ups, maximisation, scene setting, the power of the encounter.

In warming us up to the potency of this aspect I will have copies of some brief writings about the concepts of time as discussed by Daniel Stern (The Present Moment In Psychotherapy and Everyday Life, Daniel N Stern, M. D., 2004). Stern says that the present moment is our primary subjective reality, and this concept "relies heavily on a phenomenological perspective."  He describes this book as being about "the small but meaningful affective happenings that unfold in the seconds that make up now." (Moreno was a student of and influenced by phenomenology.)

I'm hopeful that our discussion will warm us up to some psychodramatic action.

Di Kearney

0416067551

93695032

Delphkearney@yahoo.com.au

4-Day Spontaneity and Psychodrama Workshop in October

4-Day Spontaneity and Psychodrama Workshop 

Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 16, 17, 18 & 19 October 

10.00 a.m - 5.30 p.m each day

Director: Sue Daniel 

This workshop is designed specifically for people who are leading groups and interested in vital leadership and group dynamics. Participants may expect to experience the breadth and depth of the psychodrama method and have a lot of fun. The focus of this workshop includes; the significance of being in the ‘here and now’ for healthy living, addressing practical problems encountered in work or life, and the creative and adequate application of a range of techniques. It will suit people working in a variety of fields including health, education, business and pastoral care. Methodology includes spontaneity training, role theory, sociometry, mindfulness practices and psychodrama. Learning is experiential based on the interests and concerns of the participants, who can expect significant personal and professional progress. The workshop is experiential with some didactic teaching including the latest findings in neuroscience. 

Fee: $660.00.00 ($550.00 for Moreno Psychodrama Society members)

Venue: Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, 1/10-12 Adolph St, Cremorne, 

The Director: Sue is a trainer, educator and practitioner (TEP) of psychodrama, an individual and group psychotherapist, and a psychologist and supervisor in private practice. She is the founder of the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne (PIM), the Australian and Aotearoa Board of Psychodrama and the Moreno Psychodrama Society (MPS) and the creator of the MPS ejournal "The Mirror".  Sue is a Visiting Professor at Muroran University, Japan; a Principal Trainer at the Indian Institute of Psychodrama and a member of the Board of Directors, IAGP, co-leading the Education Committee. 

All Enquiries:  
E: pim@netspace.net.au

One-Day Psychodrama and Music Workshop, 26 September 2015, Ceol Agus Craic

The Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne presents

CEOL AGUS CRAIC

Sat 26^th Sept 2015

‘Craic’ is an Irish Gaelic term, literally meaning ‘fun’ (although it means so much more than that). ‘Ceol Agus Craic’ translates literally as ‘music and fun’ A grand craic includes reminiscences, storytelling, folklore and music. There is certainly space for psychodrama in a craic circle. Bring your tall tales, your family stories and your poignant moments as we work with this Irish concept to create our own circle and psychodramas

Fee: $120.00

Time: 10:00am- 5.30pm

Enquiries Cath: 0448 209 021

mscathsemail@yahoo.com.au

Leaders

Cath Russell is an Australian Registered Music Therapist with Irish heritage and a Psychodrama-Assistant. She works with children in early intervention, adults and children with disabilities and in aged care institutions mainly through welfare and healthcare agencies. The ‘musical child’ continuously inspires her, a role all children can express regardless of their ability or skill. In 2014, she travelled to the Willie Clancy Scoil Samraidh in County Clare Ireland to study and sing with others drawn to Irish culture and music. Cath is excited to share and explore the links between timeless Irish Craic and group psychodrama.

Jillian Hiscock has been doing psychodrama for professional development for 25 years.  She was a member of a practicum training group over the past 3 years. Music played a strong role   in   the   training   group   as   an   expression   of   emotion   and   tele. Jillian also works in government in management roles and finds psychodramatic processes add great value in working with teams. She is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Moreno Psychodrama Society.

www.psychodrama-institute-melbourne.com

Friday Lunchtime Reading Group, 28 August 2015

Lunchtime Reading Group

On the last Friday of the month from 12.45 to 1.45 p.m. This group is designed to suit those with an hour to spare at lunchtime. Budding writers, trainees and practitioners are welcome! We will discuss psychodrama works; DVD’s and literature and other related material. A moderator who will send the material, or give it out at the previous meeting for reading or viewing, will lead the discussion.

Tapping into our Spontaneity and Creativity  

Moderator: Di Kearney

For this month's reading group there are two very different but complementary readings offered. The intention is to discuss and to (re­) experience in a variety of "ways of knowing" the vitality and potency and potential within the ideas. Tapping into our spontaneity and liberating creativity in our individual subjective existences is critical to the evolution of human life on earth, and perhaps our survival, as individuals and groups. 

In Who Shall Survive, Book iv, titled, "Construction and Reconstruction of a Community", Dr. J. L. Moreno wrote: 

If we should decide to develop a spontaneous­ creative universe to replace the one in which we live­ and in which spontaneity is 
arbitrary and incidental­ the spontaneity of one individual will
 stimulate the spontaneity of the other and the quantitative result
 will be the opposite of what we have at present . The spontaneity 
of the group will increase with its size and with the number of interactions of its members. In our present world order (1934 italics ours) the 
spontaneity quotient of the total of mankind is practically inert 
as for instance the League of Nations and the United Nations
Organization have illustrated. 
The spontaneity of mankind in such a future world order will multiply in direct proportion to the number of its groups and
the numbers of interactions between them . It will be so enormous that the power of man, the exercise of his collective energy will surpass everything we have ever dreamed."
 
(Moreno 1934, pp. 546­-547)

The second reading is a series of (incomplete) quotations from Warren Lett's book "An inquiry into making sense of our lives", (Warren Lett Rebus Press, Eltham, Australia, 2011), from the Glossary of the Miecat Form of Inquiry. (Miecat is an anagram for the Melbourne institute for Expressive and Creative Forms of Inquiry.) 

Fee: $10.00 per session includes freshly brewed coffee and selection of teas. BYO lunch. 

Enquiries and RSVP: (text or phone only) Di Kearney on 0416 067 551 (for full reference material and quotes)

Dates: 27 Feb, 27 Mar, (no April), 29 May, 26 Jun, 31 Jul, 28 Aug, 25 Sep, 30 Oct. & 27 Nov.

Theatre of Spontaneity, Sunday 27 September - Birthdays with Phil Smalley

Birthdays, we all have at least one, and usually more than one.  But they can, and do, mean different things at different times.  When we are young, they can involve parties with friends and family and of course presents which are reflective of our actual age.  Well, they can involve parties and presents when we are older, too.  However, depending on what stage of life we are, how we experience them can vary greatly.

In this evening, we will be exploring how we have experienced birthday celebrations – our own as well as those of others in our lives – but also what we hope for in the future.

So, warm up your spontaneity and let’s party like we’re …. well however old or young we want to be.

Sunday September 27th, 2015

 at 6.00 pm. for 6.30 start – 8.30 finish

  Director: Phil Smalley

RSVP by 25th September to Gavin O'Loughlin  0403 597 685
$15.00 MPS members/$20.00 non-members 


The Location is 1/10-12 Adolph St. Cremorne, Victoria

Light refreshment provided

Friends, MPS members and
colleagues are welcome

Theatre of Spontaneity - Return to Yggdrasil

The Ancient Norse were greatly spiritual people.  Their creation/ destruction/ creation myth (Ragnarok) is one of the more powerful, imaginative and evocative religious images. 

Highly important aspects to Norse spirituality are the runes and the Yggdrasil (the world tree). According to the Poetic Edda, Odhinn sacrificed himself to the Yggdrasil to learn the mystery of the runes which granted him the wisdom to rule the gods.

Through Psychodrama enact the realm, enact the rune, enact the god or simply, beautifully, respond to your creative genius.

Explore the nine worlds of the Yggdrasil, of creation, destruction and restoration- a material, spiritual and most importantly, individual, journey.  In which of the nine realms do you sit in this moment? Will the mystery of the runes (Runa) be revealed to you?

https://youtu.be/k7-wkdvGUt0
Enslaved: Sigmundsskavat - Trad Old Norse tune.
Sunday August 30th, 2015
6-8.30pm
Director: Melas Khole
RSVP by 28th August to Gavin O'Loughlin  0403 597 685
$15.00 MPS members/$20.00 non-members

PIM presents a One-Day Training Workshop in September with Sharni Page-Cameron

    Finding Your Yellow Brick Road:                       

The Key to Unlocking New Avenues of Being

 Sunday, 6 September 2015 from 10 am to 5.30 pm.

Would you like to find new ways of living and working that are enlivening and enriching?  Would you like to feel “lighter” and less burdened by the weight of past experience?  Do you dream of wonderful possibilities but stop yourself short before allowing those possibilities to be?  Come along to this experiential workshop and reawaken your potential with Sharni as she uses the spontaneity principles of Psychodrama to help unblock your creativity.  This is a day to reconnect with your inner self so that you may see things anew. Those in training, education, corporate business and parents will enjoy the benefits of this personal and professional development group setting.  Please bring something for lunch to share.

Fee: $200.00 ($150.00 PIM trainees/MPS members) Application form with $50.00 deposit or full payment due by Friday, 19 August 2015 – see website for details.

Venue: Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, Cremorne, Melbourne

The Director: Sharni Page-Cameron is an accredited Psychodramatist with the Australian & Aotearoa Board of Psychodrama, a member of the Moreno Psychodrama Society, a professional performer, playwright and composer. She graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2000 and has worked professionally in theatre, television, voiceovers, corporate and educational settings ever since.  Sharni is also a Mum of three young children.

Enquiries: E: pim@netspace.net.au      

Administrator: M: 0410 536 791

Friday Lunchtime Reading Group, 31 July 2015

Inter Subjectivity, Neuroscience and Psychodrama

Moderator: Gavin O'Loughlin

Moreno understood intuitively and wrote much that continues, and increasingly, to inform contemporary understanding of psychoanalysis, neuroscience and infant mental health. Moreno's understandings, assertions and theories about us in the world have some roots in this philosophical understanding.

He said, "Roles do not emerge from the self but the self may emerge from roles".

(Role Theory: The Role Concept, in Psychodrama Vol. 1, 1946, pp11-1V, 4^th Edition 1994)

Daniel Stern sees the confirmed existence of mirror neurons (Becchio and Bertone, 2005) as "implicit evidence for an inter subjective matrix suggestive of the human capacity to imitate understand empathise with and synchronise with others". (Daniel N. Stern, The Present Moment: In Psychotherapy and Everyday Life.  W.W Norton: New York, 97-103- 2007.

Existential phenomenology challenges the worldview of individualism, suggesting, "individual consciousness is actually a part or subsystem of a larger (inter-relational) consciousness" (Midgley, 2006, 100).

The 19th-20th century Japanese philosopher Kitaro Nishida said "It is not that there is experience because there is an individual but that there is an individual because there is an experience."  As quoted in Spinelli, Practicing Existential Psychotherapy: The Relational World. Sage Publications, Los Angeles - 2004, 11-17) 

This July Lunchtime Reading group further expands the discussion that Di Kearney began in the June Reading Group to include DanYaniv's viewpoint as set out in his article:

 
"Revisiting Morenian psychodramatic encounter in light of contemporary neuroscience: Relationship between empathy and creativity" - The Arts in Psychotherapy, 38 (2011) 52-58

How do the practices of psychodrama liberate the potential that sits within the new knowledge?  Does this change or deepen the concept of Tele? Is something new generated? How might this change our way of being or doing in psychodrama and in the world?

Lunchtime Reading Group
Last Friday of the month from 12.45 to 1.45 p.m

This group is designed to suit those with an hour to spare at lunchtime. Budding writers, trainees and practitioners are welcome! We will discuss psychodrama works; DVD’s and literature and other related material. A moderator who will send the material, or give it out at the previous meeting for reading or viewing, will lead the discussion.


Dates: 27 Feb, 27 Mar, (no April), 29 May, 26 Jun, 31 Jul, 28 Aug, 25 Sep, 30 Oct. & 27 Nov.

Fee: $10.00 per session includes freshly brewed coffee and selection of teas. BYO lunch.

Enquiries and RSVP: (text or phone only) 0403 597 685 (for reference material)