Not Everybody Wants to Rule the World

By Dr. Marlo Archer

 

With Election season upon us, we are barraged from every side by campaign ads, requests for donations, volunteer hours, or threats of the horrors that will rain down should this or that candidate take office. We are asked to take on such an “Us vs. Them” way of thinking that we can begin to turn into unthinking enemies of anything that isn’t seemingly identical to us.

Meanwhile, most of us are probably most interested in unifying the world into a cooperative community, healing the world of generations of injury and insult, and freeing humankind from the bondage of addictions. That sort of overhaul is obviously quite complicated, but Psychodrama is a therapeutic technique, whose developer, J.L. Moreno, intended it’s objective to be no less than the healing of all of mankind — each individual and each group to which any one person belongs whether that’s a family, a club, a nation, or the entire global population. Talk about a tall order!

 

“Psychodrama can be likened to an Olympic event for the psyche”

 

Psychodrama uses creativity and spontaneity to help individuals explore and resolve personal and interpersonal issues. This method encourages participants to act out their feelings and experiences, enabling them to gain new insights and emotional relief. “Psychodrama can be likened to an Olympic event for the psyche” —an arena where individuals confront and overcome personal barriers, much like athletes pushing their physical and mental limits. By role-playing scenarios that involve innovation and risk, people can explore their own responses to everyday pressures and opportunities, gaining a deeper understanding of their personal resilience and adaptability. By addressing feelings of inadequacy, stress, or competition, individuals can better cope with the demands of life without addictive substances.

Practitioners of psychodrama appreciate the complex interplay between psychological healing and broader societal forces, highlighting the importance of addressing both individual and systemic aspects of recovery. Psychodrama asks us to step into the shoes of anyone we consider, “them,” and really imagine what it’s like to live with their history, their family, belief system, and their struggles, in this world we all share.

If we can briefly set aside our own agendas and truly consider the fears and frustrations of others, we’ll be more able to show them the same compassion we would gladly give to a good friend.

When we can all start seeing everyone else with compassion, we will no longer need to injure each other with words or actions. Dig deep and give that a try. It will require all of us for this to work.

To learn more about psychodrama: https://asgpp.org/what-is-psychodrama/

To find a psychodrama group or practitioner in your area:  https://psychodramacertification.org/

 

Dr. Marlo Archer is an AZ licensed and PsyPact psychologist. Certified as a Psychodramatist in 2012 and as a Trainer, Educator, Practitioner in 2016, and recognized by the American Group Psychotherapy Association as a Certified Group Psychotherapist, Dr. Archer co-founded the Arizona Psychodrama Institute, uniting creative individuals under the common mission of teaching Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy and specific content to organizations, professionals, and students who seek to enhance their practices by learning through high-quality interactive training.  mailto: Marlo.Archer@AzPsychodrama.com or 602-770-7100.