HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hofberg, K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hofberg, K.

Personal psychotherapy, training and psychodrama

The Foundation NHS Trust, Corporation Street, Stafford

Correspondence: e-mail kristina.hofberg{at}virgin.net

Sir: I read with interest Chris Mace's views on the relevance of personal psychotherapy to training (Psychiatric Bulletin, January 2001, 25, 3-4). As a specialist registrar in general adult psychiatry, I have recently started psychodrama training as my special interest. When Moreno, the founder of psychodrama and philosophical antagonist of psychoanalysis, met briefly with Freud in 1912, Moreno said, "I start where you leave off.... You analyze their dreams, I give them the courage to dream again" (Marineau, 1989).

Psychodrama is an action method of psychotherapy, working in groups. The unique quality of training is that trainees participate in psychodrama using their own experience. Experimental work of 730 hours must be completed. This is challenging, so personal psychotherapy is mandatory.

Managing the pain of the human psyche, recognising trauma that presents as mental illness, acknowledging that the pain of living can be less bearable than the pain of dying — this is fundamental to psychiatry. Psychiatrists need and have empathy, perhaps too much. We need to be able to bear the most terrifying stories. Everyone has their own. We need resilience as well as empathy for this. If personal therapy can facilitate this it should be considered a recommended part of training and continuing professional development at all stages of our careers.

References

KIPPER, D. A. (1992) Psychodrama: Group psychotherapy through role playing. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 42, 495-521.[Medline]

MARINEAU, R. F. (1989) Jacob Levy Moreno, 1889-1974. London: Routledge.

This Article Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hofberg, K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hofberg, K.