Psychodrama: Techniques

In psychodrama, although the framework is fixed, the design of the game, on the other hand, is open. In the end, the co-players should implement the theme according to their own ideas and their creative and spontaneous possibilities. The variety of techniques within psychodrama is great, because it is not, as is often assumed, a simple role-playing game.

Breakdown of a classic psychodrama

A classical psychodrama includes three parts:

  1. The warming-up phase: it sets the mood for the group, a theme or problem is defined that the group wants to work on psychodramatically.
  2. In the play phase, the theme comes on stage and is presented scenically.
  3. In the final phase, group members explain to the protagonist their experiences that are similar to the presented theme or conflict. The players inform what and how they have experienced and felt in the respective roles.

Role reversal is considered the most important element in psychodrama. The game master asks the protagonist to take on the role of another person. The aim of role reversal is to gain understanding of the other person and experience situations from the perspective of the other. In doubling, a second person assumes the same posture of the protagonist behind him and expresses feelings, sometimes thoughts in the first person, that might correspond to the protagonist’s emotional situation.

In psychodrama, the person doing the doubling is called “auxiliary I.” The key word here is sympathy. In this way, he comes more easily into contact with his own feelings. The protagonist is also allowed to correct what is said. This technique makes it easier for him to get back into experience and action, especially in the case of inner blockages such as suppressed desires and emotions.

In mirroring, the protagonist should view his own scene from a distanced perspective. A “double” repeats a play scene of the protagonist and imitates him in his choice of words, facial expressions and gestures, so that he looks at himself from the outside as if in a mirror – emotional distance is formed here. With the group leader, he can discuss questions or impressions regarding his own behavior. New ideas arise as to how one’s own behavior can be changed.

Through the emotional distance even from sometimes burdensome topics, one gets an overview and releases creativity.

Possible applications

The spectrum for psychodrama is comprehensive: as individual, family and group psychotherapy, in drug work, personnel or team development. Situations within the group, in couples or in individual sessions, for example, to clarify problematic interpersonal relationships can be identified and treated in psychodrama.

In the play, the participants recognize communication problems and uncover the causes of conflict. Entrenched role patterns can be broken down and new behaviors can be practiced. Participants recognize and accept boundaries and or learn to cope with the associated grievances and frustrations.

Therapies with the help of psychodrama are not recognized in Germany – unlike in Austria – as outpatient procedures by health insurance companies. In this country “psychodrama as a therapeutic procedure therefore takes place preferably in hospitals”, write M. Rosenbaum and U. Kroneck in their book Psychodrama. Very often, therefore, psychodrama is found in educational and operational areas.