In this ongoing Desert Psychodrama Training and Personal Growth Group – for professionals only – participants will be trained on the theory and practice of sociometry, psychodrama and group psychotherapy.  In addition, group members will have the opportunity to practice these techniques and to explore how they can be applied to their current clientele, and a safe space to do their own work.

Training topics will include:

• Motivating clients
• Helping clients connect to self and others
• Helping clients progress in treatment
• Building group cohesion
• Revealing and clearing transferences in group
• Using psychodrama with individuals, couples, and families
• Working with “resistance”
• Facilitating effective conflict resolution
• Having a safe space for professionals to do their own work

Most professionals who train in psychodrama do not go on to pursue certification but are keen to learn effective techniques that they can ethically practice with their clients.  This group is open to therapists, counselors, interventionists, bodyworkers, treatment center front-line staff, coaches, teachers, doctors, nurses, attorneys or anyone working in the helping professional who can benefit from utilizing action methods such as sociometry and psychodrama in their work.

Those of us working in the helping professions often find it difficult to find safe spaces in which to do our own work – a place where we can find “role relief” so we don’t have to be in charge or “on”.   Everywhere we go, we find our clients and our colleagues, making it nearly impossible to be fully authentic and share our needs, fears, wants, and triumphs.  Moreover, working in a field where sometimes our desire to help our clients/patients can trump our own self-care can put anyone at risk for burn out.  Therefore, this group can also be utilized as a safe place to explore personal work, including issues of compassion fatigue, and offer opportunities to boost our own wellness and support each other in putting our masks on first.

When training in psychodrama, students direct each other in personal growth psychodramas, allowing for healing and transformation for everyone.  Great care is taken to build strong safety, and a commitment to confidentiality is made each time the group meets.  Group members have found the group invaluable in pursuing both their personal and professional work and in having an ongoing community of like-minded practitioners with whom they can continue to walk the path of healing and recovery.

Group members must make a 3-weekend commitment (including financially) to start. Since the dates are available in advance, the expectation is that group members will attend. If there is a cause for absence (full or partial weekend), refunds will not be issued.  Since we only meet twice a year, planning your closure is important, and group members must advise the group at least 2 months in advance that they will be terminating in the next group meeting, or be required to do closure over 2 groups.

FEE:
Standard Price: $784.00 per group
Discounted Zelle/Venmo/Check price:  $755.00 per group
There is an additional $10 fee per group for CEUs.

Course meets the qualifications for a total of 26.0 hours of continuing education credit (per group) for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs. CAMFT approved CE Provider #1000127. Provider approved by CCAPP-EI, Provider Number 2N-10-135-0226 for 26.0 CEHs per group.  Approved for 26.0 CEHs per group for ISEP and Psychodrama.

Dates, Times and Location:
October 10-13, 2025
9:30 am – 5:00 pm each day
41750 Rancho Las Palmas Drive, Bldg L1
Rancho Mirage, CA

Future Dates:
2026 Dates TBD by Group Consensus

A personal interview with our CEO, Jean Campbell, is required before joining this ongoing training group.  Please call 310-909-9780 or email actioninstituteassistant@gmail.com for more information.

Covid Policies:

Due to the on-going Covid-19 epidemic, participants are asked to bring rapid Covid tests each day of the workshop and to arrive with ample in advance of group to take the test before we start the workshop, or complete the test prior to arriving, and bring your test as proof of a negative result.  If anyone either tests positive for Covid-19 or has illness symptoms, we ask that you not return for the remainder of the workshop and a credit will be given towards a future workshop for time missed.

If there is reason to believe your test is a false positive (which studies show are rare), you can get a PCR test and may be allowed to return to the workshop with:

• a negative test
• no symptoms
• a willingness to wear a medical grade mask (N-95, KN-95, KF-94, or surgical)
• other group participants feel comfortable with this

General mask requirements for the workshop will be dependent on local ordinance and communicated prior to group.

Substance Use Policy
If you are in substance abuse recovery, you must have at least 1 year of continuous sobriety.  It is also required that all non-recovering participants abstain from alcohol and non-prescribed substances for the duration of this training, as well as the 48 hours prior to workshop commencement. This will aid in being present for the personal work and learning.

Ongoing Educational Objectives For This Training Group:
-Participants will be able to identify 3 appropriate sociometric interventions they can use to engage clients.
-Participants will identify 1 psychodramatic technique that they can use to engage clients.
-Participants will be able to name all 3 components of the triadic system of psychodrama.
-Participants will be able to name the stages of group work.
-Participants will be able to identify at least 1 sociometric intervention for each stage of group work.
-Participants will be able to identify at least 1 psychodramatic intervention for each stage of group work.
-Participants will be able to name 2 clinical tools they can use to help maintain ethics and safety in their clinical practice while utilizing action methods.
-Participants will be able to identify at least 1 sociometric intervention for the treatment of codependency.
-Participants will be able to identify at least 1 psychodramatic intervention for the treatment of codependency.