Souldrama® was developed by Connie Miller, NCC, LPC. TEP. in 1997 and trademarked in 1999 as a therapeutic tool created for use as an adjunct to psychodrama and designed to move clients from co-dependency to co-creativity. Connie is the founder of the International Institute of Souldrama and also the owner of the Spring Lake Heights Counseling Center and Center For Codependency in New Jersey. She was employed for years as a career counselor and worked with families with children with cancer.Connie runs a group for professionals in training in action methods and also trains the staff at Seabrook House in southern New Jersey.She is a Trainer, Educator, Practitioner of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy.
Connie has developed a new model to access our spiritual intelligence that incorporates psychodrama, group psychotherapy, the creative arts, energy work and sociometry that she has called Souldrama®. She has had articles on this approach published in our own International Journal of Action Methods (in 2000), more recently also in the Korean Psychodrama Journal, "Souldrama: a psychotherapeutic technique to access spiritual intelligence", the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, and a chapter in the recently published anthology from Routledge Publishers titled "Psychodrama: Advances in Theory and Practice. Connie has written a book on this approach (it has also been translated into Portugese and published in Brazil), made cd-rom teaching materials, and has been most active in presenting on this method nationally and internationally!
She has built bridges to a number of associated fields by presenting at the conferences of the American Counseling Association, the National Board of Certified Counselors as well as to the field of addictions. In addition, Connie has run trainings in Souldrama for the past ten years in Mexico, Portugal, Greece and in England, Brazil and presently runs her own training group in Souldrama and other action methods.
More recently she present at the British Psychodrama Association Conference, in Greece, and planning training groups in Israel and Amsterdam and Connie has also been invited to India and Indonesia.Connie is also employed by the Department of Defense on the death notification team helping to inform families of losses and injuries from overseas. All workshops and trainings offer CEUs for NCCs as well as training hours for the American Board of Examiners.
She invites any questions you might have and can be contacted atconnie@souldrama.com
Training in Souldrama
For information about our corporate trainings and workshops, please go to our webpage Corporate Trainings
The International Institute of Souldrama: Elements of Retreats, Workshops & Trainings
Director: Connie Miller, MS, TEP, LPC, NCC, USA.
The Method: Souldrama
In the counseling room, many helping professionals are challenged to find ways to combine the practice of psychotherapy with people's spiritual search without supporting specific religious practices or denominations. Spirituality is expressed individually as each person chooses a power greater than themselves, but we all have the common goal of finding our life's higher purpose. The illumination of knowing our life's purpose and the satisfaction of fully living it brings clarity, meaning, and fulfillment into our lives. When we are consciously aligned with our deepest reasons for being, we tap into rich reserves of energy, personal power, and passion. Our lives begin to flow in new and delightful ways and it brings a peaceful stillness to our souls. As we experience the depths of our hearts we are able to love ourselves without judgment and learn to extend it to others.
Applied to religious settings, Souldrama offers spiritual directors, pastors, chaplains, and others seeking fresh ideas to explore the common topics of forgiveness, love, divinity, dreams, evil, and joy. Ordinary people struggle with a spiritual path to move forward but have few tools to do so. Souldrama provides us with a therapeutic Action Method to discover a more meaningful and purposeful life! In troubled times, it helps others to access their spritual intelligence.
Souldrama Training
While we offer Souldrama retreats and workshops for personal growth, we also offer training in the methods to become a Souldrama Trainer. The training is designed to teach how to blend group psychotherapy, psychodrama, and Souldrama to stimulate creativity. This process combines the elements of mind, body, emotions, and spirit in order to create a very effective therapeutic energy within a group process. Participants will learn through the use of experiential techniques such as psycho-spiritual psychodrama and Souldrama® how to translate these interactive, creative techniques to propel themselves forward. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet people from other cultures, network, and promote this innovative Action Method.
Why Train in Souldrama®?
Souldrama helps you access your spiritual intelligence and also to understand your true spiritual purpose for your soul's mission in this life. Using the technique of Souldrama and psychodrama within a group situation, we will focus on how this technique can be used to help clients that have been stuck put their intentions into action and move past the resistance that prevents them from achieving their higher purpose.
Elements of Training: Various psychodramatic elements are employed in the trainings, such as role reversal and doubling. The progression of completing each of the seven stages of Souldramafacilitates the co-creative process of the director (facilitator) and the protagonist (lead participant). Also utilized are: concept presentation, pen and paper exercises, bodywork, dance, Chi Gong, and Reiki methods that are integrated in the workshop. The work is experiential and a full interview must be completed before you are accepted into the program as a Souldrama trainee; however, anyone is invited to attend a workshop for personal growth and to experience the process of Souldrama.
Training Requirements:
Training to be certified in Souldrama involves: 200 hrs of psychodrama training 250 hrs of Souldrama (workshops) 100 hrs Self Experience/ Therapy ( Can have been provided in the past) 50 hrs direct Supervision in the process of Souldrama. Total: 600 hours
What is Soulldrama and how does it help me as a counselor? Souldrama®, is a psycho-spiritual approach designed to enhance spiritual development in people regardless of their religious denomination or even lack of a spiritual path. As therapists and trainers, we are responsible for our own personal development and spiritual growth. The journey of going through the seven doorways of spiritual growth will help us to remove our own blocks, see our repetitive patterns, what roles we play where and when, and access our spiritual intelligence to further our careers and interpersonal relationships.
The Doorways of Spiritual Growth: A Developmental Process.
Each stage of spiritual growth coordinates to one of seven doorways and one of three different levels of intelligence. When you step through each doorway, you will uncover a challenge within yourself to overcome before you can open the next one. With the completion of each stage comes the gift of illumination, a glimpse of your authentic self, to bring with you to light the way on your journey of self-discovery. Each door will lead you to a higher state of spiritual development: doors One (Faith) and Two (Clarity) move you beyond your Rational Intelligence, doors Three (Compassion) and Four (Love) past your Emotional Intelligence, and doors Five (Humility) and Six (Gratitude) lead to your Spiritual Intelligence. Door Seven (Inspiration & Integration) is the transformation of all three along with the wisdom and knowledge of the process, your inner journey...your life's purpose. After you attend each training you will accumulate training hours. . After you leave the training, you will integrate the stage you just completed and have many epiphanies and realizations, trust yourself and listen to them. In this time of transcendence we can fully integrate our work until we meet again to explore your thoughts and experiences.
My hope is that you will be doing your training in your own country where we can supervise you during the seventh. We would like to have a representative from each country be on our Council of Souls for the International Institute of Souldrama. After you are trained you are free to run workshops wherever you want and to use the Souldrama Trademark. Can Souldrama only be used in adult psychotherapy?
There are many practical applications of this Action Method. The Doorways for Transformation can be used:
in Children's Therapy
for Couples Counseling
in Loss and Grief Counseling
with the Elderly
to develop Interpersonal Relationships
in Career Development & Coaching
by Mental Health Workers & Counselors
in Addictions & Codependency Counseling
Sports Counseling
by Churches & Clergy
by Spiritual Caregivers & Seekers
by Corporate Trainers
by Nurses & Medical Professionals
And many others
**If you are accepted into the program, any one of our retreats can also be considered for training.
***Please Note: this Institute is not connected to the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy but is a separate entity, however, one may receive hours toward certification as a psychodramatist as approved by the American Board of Examiners at this Institute.
If you would like to sponsor a retreat or workshop or be a Souldrama coordinator in your country or state, please contact us!
The Spring Lake Heights Counseling Center is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider (5971) and may offer NBCC approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program. Hours of certification in psychodrama, group psychotherapy, and sociometry as approved by the American Board of Psychological Examiners in Sociometry, Group Psychotherapy, and Psychodrama. Souldrama® is an internationally registered trademark US 903 317 and any unapproved use will result in legal prosecution.
Address: Spring Lake Heights Counseling Center 620 Shore Road Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey, 07762. USA Phone 1-800-821-9919 Connie@souldrama.com
Training in Action Methods
Training The Trainer in Psychodrama & Action Methods
Connie Miller, M.S., NCC, TEP
Energy Follows Action. Training in Action Methods is for professionals who want to use these skills in group or individual psychotherapy, education, spiritual direction, human resources, and health care settings. Action therapy will also help expand clinical skills for those working with addicts and in every level of recovery process. Students of all levels are welcome; many who come to sessions do not plan to become certified in psychodrama but find they want to use their new skills in conjunction with their present work or for personal growth. Psychodrama and sociometry principles will teach you how to build positive relationships within a group setting as well.
When action is added to the learning process, it:
Dissolves passivity.
Shows a person's inner perception of the world and provides an alternate method of disclosure.
Gives greater power and meaning to a person's words.
Helps clarify thoughts and feelings.
Increases spontaneity and creativity, allowing a person to look at life with more options.
5 hours (monthly) training and continuing education credits recognized by the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy and the National Board of Certified Counselors (Provider #5971).
Contact Connie Miller at connie@souldrama.com or (800)-821-9919 or (732)-974-1978 for information or to register.
Additional Training for Groups:
Training: Our Place or Yours! Training and supervision in group psychotherapy and psychodrama are offered both on-site (at your facility) or here at our office. Training sessions of various lengths can range from 1/2 day to a full week. Specific training and supervision on the model of Souldrama is also available. Please contact us to develop a training program to suit your needs.
Monthly Training Session in Souldrama:
If you are looking to develop or enhance your skills as a group psychotherapist, an on-going professional training group exists in Monmouth County, New Jersey! Membership in this group will allow participants to earn certification credit in group psychotherapy and psychodrama and continuing education credit for certified group psychotherapists (CGPs). Content: The training is both experiential and didactic. Each session will include processing of interpersonal interactions within the group as well as a discussion of techniques and theory applied. Membership: Space is very limited. A personal interview is required. Training sessions are on-going and you may begin at any time throughout the year. (A ten (10) month course of training is equivalent to six (6) graduate credits.)
Certification In Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama candidates learn techniques and theory through participation in an on-going group with their colleagues. A Masters degree in Psychology, Rehabilitation, Social work (MSW), or a related field along with a total of 780 hours of training (with a certified trainer in group psychotherapy and psychodrama) is required to sit for the written certification examination. (Students may work towards certification prior to receiving their degree.)
The academic portion of the training involves an extensive reading list which covers the fields of: group dynamics, the history of group therapy, sociometry, psychodrama, sociodrama, action techniques, adjunctive techniques, therapeutic factors, process and outcome research, ethics, and various theoretical orientations to group therapy as well as other related topics. Following the written exam there is a practical exam where the candidate will be asked to run a group and they will be evaluated by an observer other than the primary trainer.
Each training session includes processing and analyzing the group. This may include demonstration, lecture, videotape feedback, or a question and answer format. The candidate becomes an active member in the training group as a way of engaging in self-study for professional and personal growth.
The successful candidate will become certified in Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama as recognized by the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama and the American Board of Examiners in Group Psychotherapy, Sociometry, and Psychodrama.
Continuing Education: Participants in training sessions may earn certification credit in Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, and continuing education credit for Certified Group Psychotherapists (CGPs) and Nationally Certified Counselors. Continuing education credits for various professions (psychologists, social workers, nationally certified counselors, rehabilitation counselors, nurses, certified drug and alcohol counselors, and other mental health professionals) are also available.
Consultation: On-site consultation is available for staff training, Souldrama, program development, and supervision. We will work with you to develop a one-time, multiple presentation, or on-going consultation tailored to your program's needs. Supervision: If you would like to develop your skills as a group therapist in group process, supervision is available once a month. Members do not have to be working towards certification or continuing education credits to be part of the training and/or supervision. Group process supervision is offered both on-site at your facility and at ours. The supervision will involve members raising issues on facilitation of group process on topics such as:
-Coaching in the Courtroom for Attorneys -Forming groups -Confidentiality -Altering the group dynamic -Understanding and using sociometry -Using Action Methods -Practical concerns and safety issues -Helping isolates -Intervention Techniques -Countertransference issues -Financial matters -Terminating a group -Interacting with other professionals -Learning to process the group from different perspectives
Course Description for Training in Psychodrama, Sociodrama, and Group Psychotherapy. Conceived and developed by Jacob L. Moreno, MD., the father of group psychotherapy, psychodrama employs guided dramatic action to examine problems or issues raised by an individual (psychodrama) or a group (sociodrama). Using experiential methods, sociometry, role theory, and group dynamics, psychodrama facilitates insight, personal growth, and integration on cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels. It clarifies issues, increases physical and emotional well being, enhances learning, and develops new skills. The benefits of this experiential form of therapy offer exciting and effective ways to expand and enliven communication, learning, self-discovery, and skill building in group therapy including those in recovery from substance abuse.
PSYCHODRAMA: Psychodrama affords participants a safe, supportive environment in which to practice new and more effective roles and behaviors.
Join us today to expand your knowledge and experience Souldrama!
Connie Miller Founder of Souldrama
Connie Miller
Souldrama® was developed by Connie Miller, NCC, LPC. TEP. in 1997 and trademarked in 1999 as a therapeutic tool created for use as an adjunct to psychodrama and designed to move clients from co-dependency to co-creativity. Connie is the founder of the International Institute of Souldrama and also the owner of the Spring Lake Heights Counseling Center and Center For Codependency in New Jersey. She was employed for years as a career counselor and worked with families with children with cancer.Connie runs a group for professionals in training in action methods and also trains the staff at Seabrook House in southern New Jersey.She is a Trainer, Educator, Practitioner of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy.
Connie has developed a new model to access our spiritual intelligence that incorporates psychodrama, group psychotherapy, the creative arts, energy work and sociometry that she has called Souldrama®. She has had articles on this approach published in our own International Journal of Action Methods (in 2000), more recently also in the Korean Psychodrama Journal, "Souldrama: a psychotherapeutic technique to access spiritual intelligence", the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, and a chapter in the recently published anthology from Routledge Publishers titled "Psychodrama: Advances in Theory and Practice. Connie has written a book on this approach (it has also been translated into Portugese and published in Brazil), made cd-rom teaching materials, and has been most active in presenting on this method nationally and internationally!
She has built bridges to a number of associated fields by presenting at the conferences of the American Counseling Association, the National Board of Certified Counselors as well as to the field of addictions. In addition, Connie has run trainings in Souldrama for the past ten years in Mexico, Portugal, Greece and in England, Brazil and presently runs her own training group in Souldrama and other action methods.
More recently she present at the British Psychodrama Association Conference, in Greece, and planning training groups in Israel and Amsterdam and Connie has also been invited to India and Indonesia.Connie is also employed by the Department of Defense on the death notification team helping to inform families of losses and injuries from overseas. All workshops and trainings offer CEUs for NCCs as well as training hours for the American Board of Examiners.
She invites any questions you might have and can be contacted atconnie@souldrama.com
US & International Coordinators
Please contact any of our approved coordinators if you would like to sponsor a workshop in Souldrama!
***Souldrama coordinators are responsible for arranging the workshop to suit your needs. All workshops must have a certified Souldrama Trainer attend.
India
T.T. Srinath
T.T Srinath has spent over 27 years as an entrepreneur and 16 years as a programme facilitator. As a highly qualified sensitivity trainer from India’s most recognized body for applied behavioural science (the ‘Indian Society for Applied Behavioural Science, an associate of NTL, USA), his experience spans across a wealth of industries.
Born into a large business family based in South India, T.T Srinath, was exposed to organisational behaviour at an early age. After his post-graduate degree in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from XLRI (Jamshedpur), T.T Srinath went on to resuscitate several ailing companies before setting up his own manufacturing plant.
During his transition from Manufacturing to Training, he has undergone intensive training in centres across the world. Further, his PhD in ‘Entrepreneurial Development’ has allowed him to refine his own training technique as well as explore new areas within entrepreneurial development. His unique models and interactive psychodrama tools have been tremendously successful.
In addition to organisational training, T.T Srinath is the Managing Director for Pegasus Travels and Tours Ltd, a company that he set up in 1990, whose current gross turnover is INR.700 Million. He is also a member of the governing body of Vidya Mandir School for Secondary Education, in Chennai, India.
As an Executive Committee Member of Madras Players, the oldest English Theatre Group in India, his commitment to theatre continues.
Israel
Doren Lowenstein
Doron, has been working the last 10 years as a psychodramatist and psychotherapist in his own clinic. He specializes in working with emotionally disturbed children, and with their parents. He is also a teacher in two of the leading academic programs in Israel for training students as psychodramatists. He has been also involved for four years in directing the program (in Seminar hakibuzim together with his colleague).He also was part of the management team of The Israeli Association of Psychodrama.
Doron leads psychodrama groups for addicted prisoners living in a hostel and also leads psychodrama group for children in a daycare center, suffering from conduct disorder.
During the last years Doron has been looking for answers to questions considering the meaning of his journey here on earth, and the connection between the individual and the community in the deep sense. As a result doron is volunteering the last two years for therapeutic work with children traumatized by war actions. That is how Doron found Connie who through her workshops, he feels he can find a way to explore those questions.
Doron has his B.A. in psychology, and he also was trained in acting school. He has his M.A. in Expressive Art Therapy from Lesley University. He can be reached at doronlev10@gmail.com
Indonesia
Hennie Wattimea
Dra. Hennie Wattimena M.Th.
Coordinator of Souldrama in Indonesia
Address : Theology Faculty, Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW)Jl. Diponegoro 52-60 Salatiga 50711 Indonesia
Phone:62-298-321212 ext373.
Mobile : 081326251967 E mail hennie67@yahoo.com
Connie ‘sbook: “Starve the Ego; Feed The Soul! Souldrama : Ignite Your Spiritual Intelligence “ is translating in Indonesia and will be publishedon April 25, 2010.Please order with Hennie..
Souldrama workshop will be held on July14 – 26, 2010 in Jakarta,Bali and Maluku.
Please contact coordinator to get further information.
Florida
Kerri Leslie
Kerri Leslie is a Program Manager for a non-profit social services agency that provides children’s services to low SES families in Central Florida.She has a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from the University of Central Florida and has worked in the field of social services for the past 10 years. She has taken numerous courses in management and social work connected to children's services. Kerri is currently studying to become a certified trainer for Souldrama and enjoys working in groups to develop these skills to evolve spiritually and professionally. She can be reached at kerri@souldrama.com
Maryland
Linda Ciatola
Linda Ciotola, M.Ed., CHES, CP/TEP, is a certified clinical psychodramatist and a certified team leader in the Therapeutic Spiral Model™ of psychodrama (an adaptation specifically for work with trauma survivors). She is also a certified health education specialist and lifestyle counselor and holds multiple certifications in fitness as well as yoga. She has a private practice in Columbia, Md., and co-leads a psychodrama training group in Baltimore. She presents widely at regional, national, and international conferences, and is an approved continuing education provider for licensed professional therapists, addiction counselors, and Maryland social workers. She frequently works with trauma survivors to heal body/mind/heart/spirit. She also enjoys teaching yoga and fitness/dance. She can be reached at vegmom@closecall.com or http://www.healing-bridges.com
Trainers for Sociometry & Psychodrama
Ann Hale
Ann Hale http://www.sociometry.net/index.phpannehale@swva.net The International Sociometry Training Network founded in 2005 by Ann E. Hale is intended to direct people to publications, research, training activities and to persons knowledgable in the application of sociometric methods to such complex issues as resettlement of refugees, formation of communities and neighborhoods, transition from poor to high functioning group interaction, morale building, and greater, more productive use of resources and energies. training in sociometry. Contact Ann for trainings for hours in Souldrama. Over twenty-seven national and regional organizations have endorsed Seven Core Principles for Public Engagement, a collaborative document begun in February 2009 in response to Barack Obama's January 21st memorandum on transparency and open government. To access this document, go to the Content's section on this web site and click on "Core Principles..." or go to www.ncdd.org/pep/
Karen Drucker, Psy.D., TEP is also certified Trainer in Psychodrama and a Licensed Psychologist. practicing in Boulder,Colordo.Karen has a private psychotherapy practice, teaches at Naropa University Transpersonal Counseling Program and facilitates a weekly experiential group at La Luna Center and a monthly psychodrama training group. Contact karen at karendruck@aol.com
Jacob Gershoni, LCSW, CGP, TEP is a psychotherapist certified by the American Group Psychodrama Association, working in private practice at The Psychodrama Training Institute in New York, NY, -where he is a co-director-, with individuals, couples and groups. He is also on the staff of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. A Trainer, Educator and Practitioner (TEP) certified by the American Association of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, he also offers training classes for group therapists and others interested in Action Methods in psychotherapy.He can be reached at jacobg12@gmail.com Jacob Gershoni is the editor of "Psychodrama in the 21st Century", published in November, 2003, by Springer Publishing Company in New York City. The book covers a wide range of innovative clinical and educational applications of psychodrama techniques in a variety of settings, with numerous case examples.
The International Institute of Souldrama is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider (5971) and may offer NBCC approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program. Hours of certification in psychodrama, group psychotherapy and sociometry as approved by the American Board of Psychological Examiners in Sociometry, Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama. Souldrama® is an internationally registered trademark US 903 317 and any unapproved use will result in legal prosecution.
Souldrama: A new method combining psychology, spirituality, and the creative arts. An action method to access your Spiritual Intelligence!
Co-creation Starts With Imagination!
The International Institute of Souldrama 620 Shore Rd, Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey 07762 USA 1-800-821-9919 Souldrama® is an internationally registered trademark US 903 317 and any unapproved use will result in legal prosecution. www.souldrama.com
Over twenty-seven national and regional organizations have endorsed Seven Core Principles for Public Engagement, a collaborative document begun in February 2009 in response to Barack Obama's January 21st memorandum on transparency and open government. To access this document, go to the Content's section on this web site and click on "Core Principles..." or go to 
