Dear Friends,
What does it mean to truly witness another?
Yes, we "interact" throughout our day, giving little bits of attention here and there to other human beings. But increasingly we are being distracted by our phones, by the web, by the ceaseless pings of email and text. It's become more rare that we take the time to listen to another person in-depth, in an undistracted way.
And to witness another person--to take responsibility for being present, to be a nonjudgmental container for their process, to be in service to them--is something profoundly different.
To be a witness is an act of service. But when one gives of oneself this way, it can also be a joyful and satisfying experience.
In practicing psolodrama, it is not only the psoloist who plays many roles. The witness too, wears multiple hats: facilitator, friend, co-counselor, appreciative audience, coach, and fellow meditator -- and most important of all, holder of the space, the container for the work.
How the witness approaches these roles, how present the witness can be, and how open the witness is to receiving whatever arises in the psoloist's work, influences the quality, depth, and impact of the experience for both.
At our May Lab we'll discuss the process of witnessing and the types of awareness a good witness cultivates. We'll also witness one another practicing psolodrama.
Please join us Sunday, May 10, from 3:30-7:00pm, to practice and witness psolodrama together.
This is a free workshop -- don't miss it!
Looking forward to seeing you there,
Joel
p.s. -- If you are new to psolodrama, you are welcome to join us! Please contact us in advance for ways to get up to speed prior to the Lab.
Joel Gluck, MEd, RDT
Registered Drama Therapist
+1-617-354-0722 land line
+1-617-401-5124 cell (urgent)
www.insightimprov.org ____________________ New chapters available: * Read and comment on the draft of "Witnessing Psolodrama": http://bit.ly/inim-witness * Read the final draft of "Psolodrama Examples": http://bit.ly/inim-examples-pdf * For more info on the Insight Improv Lab and Book, including workshop dates and links to all chapters, please visit: http://insightimprov.org/Lab.html ____________________ COMING SOON TO THE LAB June 21, 2015: The Psolodrama Sharing Process
"It strikes me that Moreno found a key to the group when he asked for sharing from the heart." -- Zerka Moreno The purpose of the sharing process in psolodrama is to provide an opportunity for the psoloist to reflect on and explore her process more deeply, in dialogue with a supportive witness.
A good witness pays attention, with an open heart and a caring gaze, as the psoloist goes on her journey.
Afterward, the sharing process is, ideally, a deep, rich, warm, and spontaneous conversation, in which each person can share their experience of the psolodrama, the psoloist speaking from "inside" the process, and the witness providing a valuable, additional point of view. Oftentimes this conversation is so good, so valuable, that it may last as long or longer than the psolodrama. The psoloist and witness feel they are learning something new -- coming to new insights, or sharing something personal they may never have shared before.
As one longtime practitioner of psolodrama put it: "Both psoloist and witness are entering a realm of presence to the imaginal that is, well, sacred." The psoloist can leave the entire process feeling fully self-expressed: her psolodrama and the sharing process have let her say everything she needs to say -- and she feels deeply seen and heard by the witness.
The witness leaves with a feeling of peaceful satisfaction, having served the other with presence and lovingkindness, and having been witness to authentic, heart-opening work.
In June's Insight Improv Lab we'll practice psolodrama and the sharing process in depth, discuss the principles of supportive sharing in the role of the witness, as well as look at the effect of sharing on psoloist and witness.
____________________ Joel Gluck, MEd, RDT is a drama therapist, meditator, theatre artist, and executive coach who offers individual and couple therapy, workshops, clinical training, and coaching for performers and professionals throughout the world. |
