Interpersonal Neurobiology, Social Work, Sociometry, and Psychodrama

The rapidly emerging neuroscience research continues to validate the practice of social work, group therapy, and psychodrama. The centrality of human relationships is being supported by the field of interpersonal neurobiology. New technologies allow us to learn more about the brain and the ways it is impacted by adversity, healing, and action. The importance of safety, connection, integration, and a strength-s-based approach is supported in the neuroscience literature. The neurobiological mechanisms which promote change in psychodrama are becoming clearer. Furthermore, the words of contemporary neuroscientists appear to echo Moreno’s writings of sociometry and psychodrama nearly a decade earlier.

Strengths-Based and Mutual Aid Approaches in Social Work and Psychodrama

Social work and psychodrama are both inherently strengths-based approaches with person-centered philosophies that affirm the inherent goodness of individuals. The chapter outlines social work’s strengths-based perspective while connecting it to mutual aid, positive psychology, humanistic psychology, and Morenean philosophy. Social group work’s emphasis on mutual aid and group-as-a-whole processes is outlined with similarities to the theory and practice of psychodrama. The importance of a strengths-based approach in trauma work is affirmed and depicted through resilience theory and post-traumatic growth. Modern adaptations of classical psychodrama which emphasize strengths work are depicted, including positive psychodrama, the Therapeutic Spiral Model, and Souldrama.

Sociodrama, Activism, and Role Training to Empower Communities

This chapter will highlight the use of role-playing, especially sociodramaand role trainingin community empowerment and social activist movements. Historical context will be provided for the traditions of using drama, theater, and role-play in social work and social activismincluding Jacob Moreno’s vision of the theater as a modality for societal change. The sociodramatic approach will be outlined with focus on its utility in community settings as an experiential and communal experience of social action. Multiple examples of sociodrama or role training in communities are depicted with an emphasis on its adaptability for different settings and its effectiveness at empowering people. Examples include its application with youth, law enforcement, intergenerational dialogues, domestic violence response teams, undocumented immigrant communities, social work students, and to empower advocacy with employers, insurance providers, funders, or policy makers.

Psychodrama and Social Work Theory

This chapter includes an overview of foundational psychodrama theories—action theory, catharsis, and surplus reality. The three phases of a psychodrama group (warm-up, enactment, and sharing) and the five elements of a psychodrama (stage, protagonist, director, auxiliary egos, and audience/group) are described. Morenean philosophy and sociometric theory are revisited as they relate to psychodrama. The similar elements of psychodrama theory and social work are underlined including the importance of mutual aid, spontaneity, creativity, empowerment, self-determination, interpersonal skills, relationships, group stages, and roles.

Creating an Evidence Base for Social Work, Group Work, and Psychodrama

This chapter is devoted to outlining the research literature of psychodrama and group therapy. Evidence-based practice trends and their impact on practice in the field of social work are described. Psychodrama is also framed within the research bases of the humanistic-experiential psychotherapies, creative arts therapies, and body- and movement-oriented therapies. While the quality and quantity of research available on the effectiveness of psychodrama are limited, current findings support its use to as a treatment for various mental health conditions. Shortcomings and critiques of research in psychodrama are included while indicating a need for higher quality psychodrama research studies. The research history of psychodrama’s founder, Jacob Moreno, is also described to provide insight on psychodrama’s historical relationship to research.

Psychodrama Practice in Clinical Social Work with Individuals

This chapter is devoted to the clinical practice of psychodrama in individual sessions. Fundamental differences between psychodrama in groups and one-to-one contexts are discussed including the use of auxiliary roles, the therapeutic relationship, and modifications for basic psychodrama interventions. An overview of the use of the empty chair, objects, and/or the therapist as an auxiliary ego is included. The limitations and strengths of using psychodrama in individual sessions are discussed. Multiple psychodrama scenes (strengths-based, intrapsychic, and interpersonal) are depicted from a social work practice example with clinical processing.

Experiential Sociometry Practice and Safety Structures with Groups

This chapter is devoted to the description and depiction of action sociometry processes and safety structures in group settings, especially in group therapy. Each of these is presented with considerations to theory, safety, and multiple examples of structured prompts for their application in diverse social work group settings. Experiential sociometry processes outlined include the use of small groups, spectrograms, locograms, floor checks, step-in sociometry, hand-on-shoulder soicograms, and the circle of strength safety structure. These action-based processes can be modified for use in any group setting to enliven the group experience.

History of Social Work with Groups in Practice and Education

This chapter outlines a brief history of social work with groups including its place within the larger social work field and the landscapes of group work practice and education. Basic theory and concepts in social work with groups are presented including mutual aid, the centrality of relationships, and an introduction to the non-deliberative social work tradition. The presence of group work in social work practice has significantly increased due as research studies have piled up to support its efficacy. Nevertheless, at the same time, the presence of group work in social work education has steadily declined in the past several decades.

Warming-up, Sociometric Selection, and Therapeutic Factors

The content of this chapter is focused on the importance of the warming-up process, the sociometric selection of a group topic and protagonist, and Yalom’s therapeutic factors as they relate to psychodrama groups. The warming-up process, often overlooked, is presented as integral to the success of any experiential structure. The role of the psychodrama director is described while presenting four sub-roles—therapist, analyst, group leader/sociometrist, and producer. The importance of contracting and the initial interview at the start of a psychodrama enactment are emphasized. Each of Yalom’s therapeutic factors is introduced while identifying their significance in psychodrama practice.

Trauma, Social Work, and Psychodrama

The history and principles of trauma-informed practice in social work are presented while differentiating trauma-informed and trauma-focused practices. The practice of trauma-focused group therapy and trauma-focused psychodrama is outlined while acknowledging the recent calls for increased trauma content in graduate curriculums. Safety, play, and spontaneity are elevated as core elements in psychodrama’s effectiveness in working with trauma survivors. Psychodrama’s unique capacity for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is presented while outlining two trauma-focused psychodrama models—the Therapeutic Spiral Model and the Relational Trauma Repair Model.