What Is Psychodrama?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTechniquesWhat Psychodrama Can Help WithEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Techniques

What Psychodrama Can Help With

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

Close

This type of therapy incorporates aspects of role-playing, dramatic self-presentation, and group dynamics to help people gain greater understanding and insight into their lives and experiences.

While it functions as individual therapy, it utilizes a group format. The group focuses on one person at a time and act out incidents from that person’s past. Psychodrama is rooted in psychology, but it also incorporates elements of theater and sociology.

Techniques of Psychodrama

Sessions usually take place once a week in a group made up of around eight to 12 people. A session typically lasts around two hours.

Each session is usually focused on one individual within the group. Other members of the group will then take on supporting roles during the session as they are needed.

There are three basic components of a psychodrama session:

The Warm-Up Phase

The warm-up phase is a period in which members of the group introduce themselves, work on establishing trust, and create a sense of group cohesiveness. The facilitator will lead the group through exercises focused on creating a safe space in order to bring the group together and help them feel comfortable enough with each other to move on to the next phase of the session.

The Action Phase

The action phase involves creating and acting out a scene from the individual’s life. The therapist acts as a director to guide the individual, known as the protagonist, and others in the group through the scene using various techniques. These include:

The Sharing Phase

The sharing phase then involves the therapist helping the protagonist process and understand the emotions and thoughts that have come to the surface. The hope is that this will lead to insight and transformation.

This phase also involves having others in the group provide their insights that might help the protagonist gain a better understanding of their own experiences.

Psychodrama may be helpful for a number of different conditions. It may be useful for people who have conditions that affect self-image, emotions, and moods. Some conditions or issues it might help include:

Psychodrama has also been used in the treatment of conditions such asschizophreniaandsubstance use disorder.

Effectiveness of Psychodrama

While more research is needed, some evidence supports the usefulness of psychodrama.Some of the research supporting its efficacy includes:

Another benefit is that psychodrama has a wide variety of applications. It is adaptable depending on the individual’s needs and situation. In addition to being used to help individuals, it has also been utilized in a variety of settings including business, teaching, management, training, and religion.

It is important to be aware that while psychodrama has grown in popularity, there is not a great deal of research demonstrating the impact it has. More research is needed to determine its potential benefits and uses.

It is also important to consider the importance of trust and confidentiality within the group of people who are participating in the psychodrama sessions.Screening and selecting people who are suited to the experience is essential, but this can be both costly and time-consuming.

Psychodrama sessions can also be emotionally challenging and some may find the format distressing ortriggering. Acting out difficult scenes from a person’s past can resurface intense or difficult emotions, so some people may find that they feel worse before they begin to feel better.

How to Get Started With Psychodrama

If you are interested in trying psychodrama, it can be helpful to know what you can expect during your first session. During your session, expect your therapist to start with warm-up exercises that are designed to help build trust and cohesion within the group.

Depending on whether you are the protagonist or a participant, you may be acting out scenes from your own life or from the lives of others in your group. You may be asked to share your own thoughts about the experience once the reenactment is complete.

In order to find a therapist who practices psychodrama, consider searching an online therapist directory to find a professional in your area.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cruz A, Sales CMD, Alves P, Moita G.The core techniques of Morenian psychodrama: a systematic review of literature.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1263. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01263Prosen S.Psychodrama in the group of patients diagnosed with eating disorders. In: Stadler C, Wieser M, Kirk K, eds.Psychodrama. Empirical Research and Science 2. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden; 2016:131-141. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-13015-2_11López-González MA, Morales-Landazábal P, Topa G.Psychodrama Group Therapy for Social Issues: A Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 22;18(9):4442. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094442. PMID: 33922138; PMCID: PMC8122755.Orkibi H, Feniger-Schaal R.Integrative systematic review of psychodrama psychotherapy research: Trends and methodological implications.PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0212575. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212575Wilks, A. (2024, September 16).The effectiveness of psychodrama on life satisfaction, self-compassion, and positive emotions in depressed patients.Global Compassion Coalition. https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/the-effectiveness-of-psychodrama-on-life-satisfaction-self-compassion-and-positive-emotions-in-depressed-patients/Mertz, Corrine E.The effectiveness of psychodrama for adolescents who have experienced trauma. 2013. Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.Şahin Yoluk İ, Togay A, Kırlangıç Şimşek B.The effectiveness of psychodrama on social skills and life satisfaction of disadvantaged early-adolescents.Z Psychodrama Soziom. 2020;19(S1):7-19. doi:10.1007/s11620-020-00559-9Giacomucci S, Marquit J.The effectiveness of trauma-focused psychodrama in the treatment of PTSD in inpatient substance abuse treatment.Front Psychol. 2020;11:896. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00896Pramann R.Benefits, limitations, and potential harm in psychodrama (training). CCCU Training in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy; 2016.Orkibi H, Feniger-Schaal R.Integrative systematic review of psychodrama psychotherapy research: Trends and methodological implications.PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0212575. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212575

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cruz A, Sales CMD, Alves P, Moita G.The core techniques of Morenian psychodrama: a systematic review of literature.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1263. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01263Prosen S.Psychodrama in the group of patients diagnosed with eating disorders. In: Stadler C, Wieser M, Kirk K, eds.Psychodrama. Empirical Research and Science 2. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden; 2016:131-141. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-13015-2_11López-González MA, Morales-Landazábal P, Topa G.Psychodrama Group Therapy for Social Issues: A Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 22;18(9):4442. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094442. PMID: 33922138; PMCID: PMC8122755.Orkibi H, Feniger-Schaal R.Integrative systematic review of psychodrama psychotherapy research: Trends and methodological implications.PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0212575. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212575Wilks, A. (2024, September 16).The effectiveness of psychodrama on life satisfaction, self-compassion, and positive emotions in depressed patients.Global Compassion Coalition. https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/the-effectiveness-of-psychodrama-on-life-satisfaction-self-compassion-and-positive-emotions-in-depressed-patients/Mertz, Corrine E.The effectiveness of psychodrama for adolescents who have experienced trauma. 2013. Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.Şahin Yoluk İ, Togay A, Kırlangıç Şimşek B.The effectiveness of psychodrama on social skills and life satisfaction of disadvantaged early-adolescents.Z Psychodrama Soziom. 2020;19(S1):7-19. doi:10.1007/s11620-020-00559-9Giacomucci S, Marquit J.The effectiveness of trauma-focused psychodrama in the treatment of PTSD in inpatient substance abuse treatment.Front Psychol. 2020;11:896. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00896Pramann R.Benefits, limitations, and potential harm in psychodrama (training). CCCU Training in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy; 2016.Orkibi H, Feniger-Schaal R.Integrative systematic review of psychodrama psychotherapy research: Trends and methodological implications.PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0212575. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212575

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Cruz A, Sales CMD, Alves P, Moita G.The core techniques of Morenian psychodrama: a systematic review of literature.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1263. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01263Prosen S.Psychodrama in the group of patients diagnosed with eating disorders. In: Stadler C, Wieser M, Kirk K, eds.Psychodrama. Empirical Research and Science 2. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden; 2016:131-141. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-13015-2_11López-González MA, Morales-Landazábal P, Topa G.Psychodrama Group Therapy for Social Issues: A Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 22;18(9):4442. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094442. PMID: 33922138; PMCID: PMC8122755.Orkibi H, Feniger-Schaal R.Integrative systematic review of psychodrama psychotherapy research: Trends and methodological implications.PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0212575. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212575Wilks, A. (2024, September 16).The effectiveness of psychodrama on life satisfaction, self-compassion, and positive emotions in depressed patients.Global Compassion Coalition. https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/the-effectiveness-of-psychodrama-on-life-satisfaction-self-compassion-and-positive-emotions-in-depressed-patients/Mertz, Corrine E.The effectiveness of psychodrama for adolescents who have experienced trauma. 2013. Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.Şahin Yoluk İ, Togay A, Kırlangıç Şimşek B.The effectiveness of psychodrama on social skills and life satisfaction of disadvantaged early-adolescents.Z Psychodrama Soziom. 2020;19(S1):7-19. doi:10.1007/s11620-020-00559-9Giacomucci S, Marquit J.The effectiveness of trauma-focused psychodrama in the treatment of PTSD in inpatient substance abuse treatment.Front Psychol. 2020;11:896. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00896Pramann R.Benefits, limitations, and potential harm in psychodrama (training). CCCU Training in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy; 2016.Orkibi H, Feniger-Schaal R.Integrative systematic review of psychodrama psychotherapy research: Trends and methodological implications.PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0212575. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212575

Cruz A, Sales CMD, Alves P, Moita G.The core techniques of Morenian psychodrama: a systematic review of literature.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1263. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01263

Prosen S.Psychodrama in the group of patients diagnosed with eating disorders. In: Stadler C, Wieser M, Kirk K, eds.Psychodrama. Empirical Research and Science 2. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden; 2016:131-141. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-13015-2_11

López-González MA, Morales-Landazábal P, Topa G.Psychodrama Group Therapy for Social Issues: A Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 22;18(9):4442. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094442. PMID: 33922138; PMCID: PMC8122755.

Orkibi H, Feniger-Schaal R.Integrative systematic review of psychodrama psychotherapy research: Trends and methodological implications.PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0212575. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212575

Wilks, A. (2024, September 16).The effectiveness of psychodrama on life satisfaction, self-compassion, and positive emotions in depressed patients.Global Compassion Coalition. https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/the-effectiveness-of-psychodrama-on-life-satisfaction-self-compassion-and-positive-emotions-in-depressed-patients/

Mertz, Corrine E.The effectiveness of psychodrama for adolescents who have experienced trauma. 2013. Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

Şahin Yoluk İ, Togay A, Kırlangıç Şimşek B.The effectiveness of psychodrama on social skills and life satisfaction of disadvantaged early-adolescents.Z Psychodrama Soziom. 2020;19(S1):7-19. doi:10.1007/s11620-020-00559-9

Giacomucci S, Marquit J.The effectiveness of trauma-focused psychodrama in the treatment of PTSD in inpatient substance abuse treatment.Front Psychol. 2020;11:896. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00896

Pramann R.Benefits, limitations, and potential harm in psychodrama (training). CCCU Training in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy; 2016.

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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