In a captivating video titled “Trying Psychodrama Therapy For The First Time | My First Therapy with Sharmini Winslow,” Zula influencers Chow and Fauzi embark on a remarkable journey of self-discovery through the transformative power of psychodrama therapy. This 24-minute video captures their profound experience as they delve into deep emotions under the expert guidance of psychologist Sharmini Winslow.
Sharmini Winslow’s Expertise and Background:
Sharmini Winslow, a respected psychodramatist known for her expertise in psychodrama therapy, leads Chow and Fauzi through this groundbreaking experience. With her extensive knowledge and compassionate approach, Winslow creates a safe and supportive space for their therapeutic exploration.
The First-Time Psychodrama Experience:
Chow and Fauzi eagerly embrace the opportunity to try psychodrama therapy for the first time, expressing their excitement and curiosity. Guided by Sharmini’s warm and professional demeanour, they embark on a profound journey of self-discovery, eager to uncover and explore their deepest emotions.
Unveiling Emotions through Psychodrama Vignettes:
Sharmini skillfully facilitates a series of psychodrama vignettes, inviting Chow and Fauzi to externalize their inner experiences and engage with their emotions on a profound level. Through these enactments, they courageously express and confront unresolved issues, gaining valuable insights into themselves and their relationships.
The Transformative Power of Psychodrama Therapy:
As Chow and Fauzi immerse themselves in the transformative experience of psychodrama therapy, they are astounded by its profound impact on their emotional well-being. The video beautifully captures their personal growth and self-discovery, showcasing the potential for healing and transformation that lies within this therapeutic modality.
Sharing Their Insights:
Throughout the video, Chow and Fauzi generously share their reflections and insights, offering viewers a glimpse into their transformative journey. Their vulnerability and openness inspire viewers to reflect on their own emotional landscapes and consider the profound possibilities that psychodrama therapy can offer.
“Trying Psychodrama Therapy For The First Time | My First Therapy with Sharmini Winslow” presents a heartfelt and enlightening exploration of the transformative power of psychodrama therapy. Guided by Sharmini Winslow’s expertise and compassionate support, Chow and Fauzi embark on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and personal growth. This video invites viewers to contemplate their own emotional well-being and consider the potential for healing and transformation through the profound practice of psychodrama therapy.
Sharmini Winslow was interviewed by Expat Living Magazine on how Psychodrama can help those suffering with Anxiety. Read on to find out what was shared.
What is psychodrama and does it help anxiety?
Since 2011, Sharmini Winslow has been a pioneer of psychodrama in Singapore and holds sessions with Promises Healthcare. After pursuing a career in dance and choreography, and founding her own Pilates studio, Sharmini discovered her natural affinity for forming connections with people – notably her close bonds with her Pilates students. Facing anxiety and feeling burnt out by the trials of running a business, she took a degree in counselling and eventually discovered the concept of psychodrama, where she found her own inner breakthroughs.
Here we find out more about this unique form of therapy and how it’s helped people with depression, anxiety and other issues.
Sharmini Winslow
Can you explain to us what psychodrama is all about?
Psychodrama is not drama therapy. Psychodrama has its own canon of theories and philosophies – it has a very coherent methodology. Jacob L Moreno was the psychiatrist who founded psychodrama and came up with a theory of personality, philosophy and methodology. It’s a very comprehensive way of working with clients that can also be adapted to work with other theories.
Psychodrama is basically taking whatever is in your psyche (“psycho-”) and putting it into action (“drama”) in the therapy room. We use objects and people to represent things or people from your life that you can interact with on the stage. In psychodrama, you can explore issues you want to deal with and the feelings that are coming up.
Can you give an example of what happens in a psychodrama session?
We begin with warm-ups to help participants connect and feel comfortable with each other and the director. A protagonist is chosen either as a volunteer or by the group. The protagonist is the group member who wishes to explore a situation in their life. A scene is set and group members are chosen as auxiliaries to play the roles of people, things, emotions or anything of significance in the story. The psychodramatist, also known as the director of the drama, facilitates the unfolding of the drama on the stage. The stage is the space set apart specifically for the action to take place. The rest of the group act as the audience who witnesses the drama. These are the main elements in a psychodrama.
Psychodrama class
In a drama, the protagonist might go to a scene from the past, the present or even a desired future. The protagonist usually experiences a new perspective; something in their psyche shifts and they can engage in the present with more energy and life!
In a psychodrama, we have many ways of facilitating healing and closure so we don’t re-traumatise people – that’s why it takes about 800 hours to become a qualified psychodramatist. There are protocols to follow to create safety and confidentiality, which is an important aspect of group therapy.
What do you think the main advantages of psychodrama are?
The main advantage of psychodrama is that it takes less time to get to the heart of the matter. It helps the client cut through the clutter of their intellectualisation and explore new problem-solving skills. It’s also a holistic form of therapy that embraces spontaneity and body awareness.
Psychodrama is relatively new in Singapore; does this cause any challenges? How do you address this?
There are many misconceptions and one of them is that you have to reveal your personal life to a group of strangers. In actual fact, great care is taken to build trust in the group, and if you’re still not warmed up you can participate as an audience member. I offer open sessions that allow people to experience what goes on in psychodrama. This helps to demystify it and make it more accessible. For those that want to dive deeper, I hold Personal Growth Groups that run for six to eight weeks. I believe that if people are willing to try it, they’ll enjoy it. But there’s always a hesitancy and fear about trying something new.
Is psychodrama more effective for certain kinds of people?
Psychodrama works best for people who are willing to be honest and open and want to deal with their issues in more creative ways.
Can it help with anxiety?
It helps with anger issues, depression, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, low self-esteem and even addictions.
What are some of your success stories?
I had a client who was too afraid to speak because of anxiety and his addiction issues. He was put into our group of men with addiction issues, and he was very quiet in this group. We started doing warm-ups and for the first time in his life people were relating to him as an equal, a peer. Nobody was talking down to him because nobody knew about his background except for me. He had become anxious as a result of years of drug use, and had some neurological issues.
After a few weeks, he started talking in short sentences and told us he had gone to a concert. All the guys in the group were slapping him on the back and cheering him on. His family was really grateful. He didn’t even do his own psychodrama, he was just part of the group.
What advice do you have for people who want to become professional psychodramatists?
Be patient! It takes many hours. If you’re committed to it, stay the course and don’t give up. Supervision is part of the learning process as it’s a very powerful method. Don’t neglect this important aspect of your training.
Want to discover psychodrama for yourself?
Sharmini is hosting an open session/introduction to psychodrama on 12 August for Expat Living readers – visit the Psychodrama website to sign up. She also holds training sessions for those interested in taking up psychodrama professionally. Sharmini is a Certified Psychodramatist, accredited by the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy
This article first appeared in the July 2022 edition of Expat Living and on their website.
Written by Dinesh Ajith
Dinesh is a seasoned writer and editor with seven years of experience covering travel, restaurants and bars. His interests include film photography, cheesy 90s monster flicks, and scouring the island for under-the-radar craft beer bars.
It’s been awhile since we had our last newsletter. We are looking forward to serving up a series of workshops to “ Improve Your Serve” as Therapists and Coaches.
In 2012, as part of my desire to share the joy of Psychodrama with others in Singapore, I invited Rob Brodie from Adelaide, Australia to run a 3-day Psychodrama Training Workshop. We began with an Open Session which was filled to capacity, in our training room.
The 3-day workshop had the effect of inspiring many to continue training in Psychodrama and our Facebook Group was started to share more about our sessions. This inaugural workshop in 2012, was the launch of many more in the years to come. Several trainers flew to our shores from Australia, New Zealand and the USA!
As part of our 10th Anniversary celebrations, we’ve dropped the prices of our full-day workshops. Do sign up! You will receive certification hours which are recognised by the American board of examiners in Psychodrama sociometry and group psychotherapy. CPD hours with SAC are also available. (Click here for workshop details)
As we take Psychodrama Singapore through to the next leg of our journey, we hope to pave the way for more Certified Psychodramatists from Singapore. It is our hope that a community of Psychodramatists and enthusiasts will bring new meaning to the idea that Jacob Moreno had – “A truly therapeutic procedure can have for its objective no less than the whole of Mankind.”(J.L. Moreno, 18189-1974)
We look forward to continuing this exciting journey with you. Blessings, Sharm’
