Weekly Psychodrama Training: 2024-2025

This on-going weekly training course will offer 100 hours of in-depth learning and practice of the psychodramatic method, philosophy, and technique. Action exercises and psychodrama enactments will be balanced with didactic and processing to provide a full learning experience. Weekly Psychodrama Training offers a unique professional learning experiences that truly supports professional self care. In addition to gaining a specialized clinical skill set, participants also gain a uniquely supportive professional community in the process.

Please remember: This is an in-person, interactive, course that requires on-going participation and commitment to attend. Please make sure you are able to make the full commitment to attend each week and arrive on time. 

Tuition:

Unless otherwise arranged, tution is paid monthly. $200 is paid by check or credit card at the first training of each month (except June). The registration fee of $200 is credited toward September tuition. Total tuition over 9 training months is $1800.

Learning Objectives:

• Verbalize an understanding of basic psychodramatic theory (i.e. sociometry, social atom, role, creativity & spontaneity theory).
• Discuss some aspects of psychodrama philosophy (i.e. Catharsis of integration, “here & now”, child development, etc).
• Demonstrate an understanding of psychodrama session structure (i.e. warm-up, action, and sharing).
• Demonstrate an understanding of doubling, mirroring and role reversal techniques.
• Demonstrate trauma-informed interventions for promoting safety in psychodrama treatment.
• Utilize action techniques for assessment, intervention, and evaluation purposes.
• Discuss how psychodrama and sociodrama can be integrated with other related fields and modalities.
• Discuss and demonstrate directing skills (i.e. determining a therapeutic hypothesis, setting clinical goals, identifying act hungers, open tensions, and central concern).
• Verbalize an understanding of various psychodrama terms including surplus reality, tele, sociometry, auxiliary, etc.
• Demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues* in the application and practice of psychodrama.
• Demonstrate how action interventions can be used to recognize and address *cultural factors within the group psychotherapy process (i.e. sociodrama).
• Demonstrate the ability to process a psychodramatic session.

Schedule Options:

• Wednesday Mornings: 10am-1pm (starts 9/18/24) ALMOST FULL- Primary Trainer: Scottie Urmey
• Wednesday Evenings: 6:00-9:00pm (starts 9/18/24)-Primary Trainer: Ron Collier
• Thursday Mornings: 10am-1pm (starts 9/19/24)-Primary Trainer: Scottie Urmey

 Scottie Urmey, LCSW, TEP: (Primary Trainer for Wednesday and Thursday morning training groups)

"Scottie" is a licensed clinical social worker and board certified trainer, educator, and practitioner of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy with over 25 years of training and experience. “Scottie’s” clinical applications of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy follow her career; inpatient, outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), adult partial hospital, community based, and presently in private practice with adults, children, couples and families. Scottie is listed as an approved clinical supervisor by NASW-NJ and presently teaches the required 20-hour clinical supervision course at Monmouth University, School of Social Work, Professional Education Program. She has been presenting educational workshops and seminars locally and nationally on the topic of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy since 2007. Scottie is the founder of Psychodrama New Jersey, an institute of education, training, professional development and psychotherapy practice. Scottie is currently President of the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, & Group Psychotherapy. She is frequently an adjunct professor of Monmouth University’s Professional Counseling Department and School of Social Work. Scottie received the 2014 Alumni of the Year Award from Monmouth University School of Social Work, the 2014 Volunteer Award from the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, and the ASGPP 2016 Collaborators Award for her contribution to the learning and practice of psychodrama with her long-time colleague Ron Collier, LCSW, TEP. Most recently, Scottie has co-authored research related to sociodrama which was published in the 2020 Special Edition of Social Work Practice with Groups journal.

Ron Collier, LCSW, TEP:  (lPrimary Trainer for Wednesday evening training group)

Ron  is a licensed clinical social worker, board certified psychodramatist, and approved clinical supervisor. Ron has held clinical and supervisory positions for over 35 years. He received the Bertha-Capon-Reynolds award from Monmouth University School of Social Work for his outstanding field supervision in 2007 and the 2014 Volunteer Award from the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County for his personal contributions and oversight of volunteer’s in the aftermath of Super storm Sandy, and the ASGPP 2016 Collaborators Award for his contribution to the learning and practice of psychodrama with long time colleague Scottie Urmey, LCSW, TEP. In addition to his full time private practice Ron consults for the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, conducts psychodrama therapy groups for Monmouth Medical Center's Community Connections program, and is served on the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP) executive board.

Continuing Education: This course, Weekly Psychodrama Training, Approval #20240409-2, provided by Psychodrama New Jersey is

approved for continuing education by the New Jersey Social Work Continuing Education Approval Collaborative, which is administered by NASW-NJ. CE Approval Collaborative Approval Period: September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2026. New Jersey social workers will receive 100 (91 clinical; 6 Ethics; 3 Cultural Competency) CE credits for participating in this course.

Please note, NASW-NJ Continuing Education credits are also valid for school social workers, LPCs, LMFTs, and LCADCs in NJ.

All 100 hours of this training may be applied toward certification standards of the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy.

Participant Information

Training groups include students and professionals with various educational and professional backgrounds ranging from beginner to advanced skill levels. Some advanced participants may be seeking certification while intermediate or beginner participants may seek training for professional development or skill building purposes. The course provides content and training hours required for board certification in psychodrama. Board Certified Practitioner’s (CP) and CP eligible candidates must be masters level licensed mental health professionals. Therefore, the material presented in this course builds upon techniques, knowledge and skills learned in introductory collegiate level courses. Participants at the beginning skill level will minimally have completed some collegiate level course work and demonstrate an interest and aptitude for pursuing an advanced level mental health degree (ex. Social Work, Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Pastoral Counseling, Expressive Arts Therapies, Art Therapy, Dance/ Movement Therapy, Drama Therapy, or Music Therapy). This psychodrama training uses an adult learning model, so education and learning flows from all available resources, allowing advanced and intermediate (i.e. current masters level students or recent graduates) skill level participants the benefit of furthering their clinical acumen via the questions and enthusiasm of beginning level participants.

Accommodations: PNJ hope to create a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment. Psychodrama training uses an adult learning model, intended to be less hierarchical, so education and learning flows from all available resources. Participants are encouraged to let us know about their different learning needs and goals so that we can best nurture your educational experience. To inquire into accommodations for special needs or disability please contact the registrar, Patricia Hannah, at 732-686-9427 or patricia@psychodramanj.com. 

Grievances: If anyone is left unsatisfied with the program or instruction, they may contact Scottie Urmey at 732-686-9427 or scottie@psychodramanj.com.

Refunds: A $25 processing fee will be charged for all cancellations.

All cancellations must be submitted in writing and directed to the registrar, Patricia Hannah at patricia@psychodramanj.com.

Participants who submit written cancellation with more than 3 weeks notice (before Wednesday August 28th, 2024) will receive 100% of the tuition fee paid, minus the $25.00 processing fee. Participants who submit written cancellation with less than 3 weeks notice (after Wednesday August 28th, 2024) will receive 50% of the tuition fee paid, minus the $25.00 processing fee. No refunds are offered for cancellations after September 18, 2024. No prorated or discounted amounts are offered for absences or missed training sessions, on-going weekly training requires a commitment to attend the full experience. If the entire event is canceled by Psychodrama New Jersey, full refunds will be issued. If individual classes are canceled due to state emergencies or poor weather conditions Psychodrama New Jersey will coordinate a make-up class for a future date.