Trainings for Clinicians and Others

1. •An Introduction to Drama Therapy
   (1 to 3 days)
   A basic introduction to the field, offering clear explanations and a wide range of fresh ideas and moving, fun experiences. We will introduce a standard drama therapy progression; practical and fun warm-ups that can be applied in clinical settings; sociometry, sociodrama, and psychodrama; and several other drama therapy approaches.
   

2. •Exploring Psychodrama
   (2 to 3 days)
   Psychodrama is a powerful form of role-play created by Jacob Moreno, the father of modern drama therapy. In this advanced program, we will delve deeper into the psychodrama form, exploring the roles of auxiliary ego, double, and director, while providing further opportunities for personal exploration.
   

3. •Insight Improvisation Teacher Training
   An ongoing, multi-stage program for experienced practitioners.

1. •Those engaged in a personal journey looking for ways to connect deeply to their own inner stories as a way of transforming their own experience
   

2. •Students and practitioners in the arts looking to deepen their work and stimulate the creative sourcing of materials

1. •Students and practitioners of psychotherapy and creative arts therapies interested in increasing their range of tools and approaches
   
   

2. •Meditators wishing to engage the body and voice, and to apply meditative insight to issues in their personal lives

Psolodrama Weekend Intensive I

Insight Improvisation:
An Introduction to Psolodrama

Meditation, Movement, and Role Play

April 29-May 1, 2011

Northampton, MA

Psolodrama is a powerful therapeutic practice that combines Vipassana meditation, Authentic movement, and Psychodramatic role play.  Essentially, Psolodrama is a one-person psychodrama enacted in the presence of a supportive witness.  A psolodrama arises organically from the body, senses, feelings, inner imagery, and intuition, rather than from planning/worrying mind.  Often, the themes, roles, and conflicts that emerge in Psolodrama are unexpected, existential, archetypal, and deeply meaningful. 

We will move, meditate, improvise, share, and witness one another-mindfully-creating a supportive atmosphere for personal exploration, healing, and new discoveries.  This program is especially recommended for creative arts therapists and other healing professionals, performing artists, and those seeking new, creative, embodied, client-led approaches to personal healing and growth.  It will be a weekend of peer connection, expression, and play!

Insight Improvisation:
Freedom in Performance
3 days

This workshop focuses on the contemplative theater aspects of Insight Improvisation. We will explore the meditative principles of Mindfulness and Choicelessness — as well as the concepts of Performance Mind and Being Mind — and how they can be applied in theater and improvisation. Activities include:

1. •A variety of meditations and active meditations (such as Authentic Movement)
   

2. •Original approaches to physical and vocal improvisation, work with a self-authored text, contact improv, and storytelling
   

3. •One-to-one coaching using Insight Improv techniques.
   

Insight Improvisation:
Meditation in Action
2 days

This program offers several alternative, embodied approaches to meditation, alongside the classic teachings and practices of Theravadan masters from Thailand and neighboring countries.

Questions we’ll address:

1. •How can I develop a meditation practice in my own life, and what are the benefits?
   

2. •What’s the relationship between samatha (concentration), and vipassana (insight) meditation?
   

3. •I’m tired of sitting and walking—I feel drowsy, lost in thought. Are there ways to meditate that will help me stay awake and connected? (Yes! We will introduce several.)
   

4. •How can I cultivate sati (mindfulness) in day-to-day life?
   

5. •How do I deal with strong emotions that arise, especially in my relationships?
   

We’ll also look at how the five Buddhist precepts reinforce the practice of meditation.

Who May Benefit from Attending Insight Improv Programs?

Psolodrama Weekend Intensive II

Insight Improvisation:

Psolodrama in Depth

For Experienced Students

May 20-22, 2011

Northampton, MA

For those who have previously learned psolodrama, this weekend is an opportunity to take the practice deeper, focusing on different aspects of the form, including:

•The five psychodramatic roles as distinguished in psolodrama

•Performance Mind versus Being Mind

•The role of the witness

•The use of writing, poetry, and the sharing of writing between psoloist and witness

•Sung psolodrama

•Psolodrama alone—the ability to be one's own witness

•Psolodrama as active meditation

•Dealing with blocks and challenges

•...and other topics.

We will be practicing psolodrama both in pairs and before the group, learning how to be better witnesses and coaches, as well as journeying deeper into the psolodramatic process itself.