West Chester University
Department of Psychology

[45-51 Semester Hours]

The Program:

The group psychotherapy, psychodrama, and sociometry concentration is designed to prepare the student for certification in group psychotherapy,psychodrama,and sociometry. This concentration is oriented specifically toward clinical and research applications, training students to provide group psychotherapy as mental health care practitioners. Students can choose from two tracks: The academic or professional track. The academic track requires completion of a thesis and/or research report. The academic track is designed for students intending to pursue (a) a career in allied health professions after completing the M.A. program, plus the ‘Post Master’s Program’ in Clinical Mental Health in Preparation for Counseling Licensure, or (b) doctoral work in an area related to the allied health sciences. The professional growth track is intended for professionals, holding advanced degrees (MSW, MS, MA,PsyD, PhD, EdD, MD, RN), who need required group therapy courses and practicum hours to Am satisfy The American Board of Examiners specified certification requirements in group psychotherapy, psychodrama, and sociometry. Individuals seeking professional growth, but not certification, can take psychodrama and other group courses on a limited basis depending upon the availability of seats.

The group psychotherapy program conforms to the academic requirements for certification specified by The American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy at two levels: Clinical Practitioner and Trainer Educator & Practitioner in group psychotherapy, psychodrama and sociometry. It should be noted that students pursuing the program to earn certification in psychodrama and sociometry are required to have a secondary trainer, as part of the Board's requirements. Hours accrued with the secondary trainer count toward the basic 780 hours required by the American Board of Examiners.

History of the Program

The concentration in Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, and Sociometry was developed by Thomas Treadwell, Ed.D., (T.E.P.), Professor of Psychology,West Chester University. The objective of the program is to prepare students in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy. Students who successfully complete the concentration are encouraged to seek certification, at the "Practitioner level, "from The American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy. This program has been designed to aid students in meeting the Board of Examiner's requirements for national certification as a practitioner of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. This concentration is one of two such academic programs offered in the USA.

Overview

Jacob Levy Moreno created group psychotherapy, psychodrama and sociometry over 50 years ago. Psychodrama is a group modality utilizing guided dramatic techniques examining conflicts, predicaments, and crisis situations that are raised in group or individual settings. Psychodramatic, sociodramatic, and sociometric techniques are specially designed to facilitate individual and group expression of perceptions, thoughts, and feelings central to creating a sense of community among group members. As a result, group participants become part of a therapeutic community by sharing conflicts and supporting each other in rehearsing new ways of coping with life situations and experimenting with alternate ways of behaving.

The Curriculum:

Students are required to have a Secondary Trainer, Educator, and Practitioner. Hours accrued with the secondary trainer are applied toward the basic 780 hours required by the American Board of Examiners.

*Either a thesis (PSY-610) or research report (PSY-600) is required. This is done after students complete the basic 780 training hours.

**The 90+ hours fulfills the one year of supervised experience recommended by the American Board of Examiners.

Library Resources

The Francis Harvey Green library at West Chester University includes the major works of J.L. Moreno and other influential leaders in the field of group psychotherapy, psychodrama, and sociometry. The library contains monographs, books, and articles which are relevant to the seven content areas, recommended by the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy, for certification. Jacob Moreno's collection, an inventory of his correspondence, manuscripts, and related materials are held at Harvard University, The Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine. An index of all of his works is available at West Chester University's Library.

A partial listing of journal holdings at West Chester University include: International Journal of Action Methods, Psychodrama, Skill Training and Role Playing, formally Group Psychotherapy Psychodrama and Sociometry (1947-present), Journal of Sociometry (1937-1957), International Journal of Sociometry, International Journal of Small Group Research, Journal of Small Group Research, The International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Family Process, Journal For Specialists in Group Work, Group, The Arts in Psychotherapy, most psychodrama, sociometric, group psychotheraputic reprints and monographs.

On Campus Training Facilities

The teaching laboratory, the Campus Television Studio (WCTV), is equipped with VHS industrial Panasonic editing system and broadcast quality Hi8 editing system. The production studio is equipped with one Panasonic WV V 3, and two 3 chip Panasonic WVF250B color video (studio) cameras. Further equipment includes: Sony 3/4" recorder, video special effects generator, character generator, audio mixer plus additional video/audio equipment. The studio has a computer operated video/audio router, a time base corrector, a high baud 8-mm video cassette recorder, and a Panasonic AC1260 VHS video cassette recorder.

Special video tapes on psychodramatic and sociometric techniques, and historical perspectives of the psychodramatic movement are available for viewing by students.

The Department of Psychology developed a multi-purpose laboratory that houses a video laboratory for the purpose of taping group sessions. An editing system is part of this lab for making training tapes.

CompSoc - (computerized sociometry) - a software package is available to students on the university network system for sociometric data analyses. The CompSoc program is also used for didactic purposes. This is a DOS version of the sociometric program, however, a windows based version is being written in C++ and will be available in the near furture. The DOS version and Manual is available as shareware to interested researches/teachers/therapists. In addition to CompSoc, a Windows version of computerized sociometry, GraphPlot version 1.0 is now available. E-mail: ttreadwell@wcupa.edu

Practicum Sites

Psychiatric hospitals, therapeutic communities, and out-patient settings in the greater Philadelphia area with active psychodrama programs accept practicum students for one year. Placement of students is through the program director.

Core Faculty:
Thomas Treadwell, Ed. D., T.E.P.
V.K. Kumar, Ph.D., C.P.

Information About the Masters Program in Clinical or General Psychology, Specializing in Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama:
Contact Tom Treadwell  ttreadwell@wcupa.edu