Articles
Psychodrama with Trauma Survivors
Anna, an obese woman in her fifties enters the realm of the group for the first time. Her pastor who cares about her brought her in today. She sits down in the furthest corner of the room, her arms crossed around her chest- holding herself, almost unable to breathe. There are five other women in the group all struggling with their fears.
We are sitting in a circle; a candle is burning in the middle. I brought a deck of animal cards and ask each woman to pick a card and introduce herself as this animal. One of the women has the courage to start: “I am a cat, I hide during day time. I can be very fast and strong if I need to defend my cubs.” Anna chose a bear and shows the card to the others, she says her name but doesn’t feel safe enough to talk more. Others take their time to imagine being the animal of their choice.
For a further warm up I offer scarves in different colors. I ask each woman to pick two scarves, one representing her fears and one her hopes for being in the group. After having talked about their hopes and fears they put their scarves in front of them on the floor and we weave a sacred circle of safety and confidence. The use of therapeutic rituals like this can provide containment.
The next step could be an empty chair exercise through which each woman could introduce and change role with her most important support person.
A group with trauma survivors needs a slow and gentle approach. The anxiety is high and it takes time to build the trust necessary to do the healing work. Adults who have survived abuse as children are especially amenable to some kind of corrective interpersonal learning experience to counteract their impaired sense of trust, security and ‘belonging to the human race’ (Allen and Bloom 1994). Psychodrama is a holistic therapy aiming to integrate body, mind and emotions.
The weekly two hour-session is structured in 4 phases:
- Check in and warm up - time for participants to talk about their week and connect with each other. I use creative methods like art, music and movement to warm up the group for a psychodrama. During this phase possible themes emerge.
- The group selects a protagonist (person who enacts her story). Group members position themselves on a continuum between two lines (line 1: I do not want to be the protagonist tonight; line2: I want to be). I interview each woman about why she is standing in the spot she has chosen. Then the group chooses the protagonist for the evening.
- Psychodrama – The protagonist sets the scene as specific as possible (for instance the ‘stage’ becomes a kitchen etc.). Then she selects the persons involved in the scene. Other group members play the role of mother, father, siblings, friends, colleagues or even a tree, a river or a door, what ever is needed. No acting ability is necessary. The protagonist takes the role first and shows the ‘auxiliary’ where to stand, how to look, what to do or say. The conflict situation gets reenacted. It could be a dream, a childhood wound, a dialogue with a significant other or a work related issue etc.
Often a presented scene reminds the protagonist of a similar situation earlier in her life. We switch to the earlier scene, which reveals more about the roots of the problem. Strong emotions arise. “For traumatized people with a lot of pent up emotion that has built up like steam in a pressure cooker, an opportunity to blow off steam is usually very healing” (Kellerman & Hudgins, 2000). Discharge of emotional energy is neither induced nor inhibited but allowed to emerge in its own time and form. Trauma often leaves people with a feeling of victimization, helplessness and powerlessness. Psychodrama gives the opportunity to create a ‘surplus reality’, which means the original scene can be expanded or changed. The protagonist gets to say or do something she has wished to say or do but couldn’t in that particular moment. She regains her voice and her power and moves out of the frozen state of shock, horror and helplessness.
Role feedback and sharing with the whole group. The auxiliaries share how they felt and thought in their roles. Group members share how the scene reminded them of similar experiences in their own lives and how they can relate to the protagonist. Overall a powerful and supportive phase. We end the session considering self care or end with a grounding exercise.
M. Tamar Berg, MFT trained by psychodrama therapists of Germany, Israel and the United States, member of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP). Currently practicing in Sonoma County, CA.