Welcome to the homepage of Mid-Atlantic Chapter, American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama

Overview of MAC: Mid-Atlantic Chapter, American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (MAC) is a regional chapter of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP), the national professional organization devoted to advancing the field of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy. Since its inception in 1984, MAC’s primary purpose has been to provide professional development and networking opportunities for area psychodramatists and others interested in psychodrama. MAC programs, workshops, and other events are educational in nature and are not intended as a substitute for psychotherapy.

Brief Overview of Psychodrama: Psychodrama is a form of psychotherapy developed by Jacob L. Moreno, M.D., a Viennese psychiatrist who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1930s. Psychodrama uses various forms of enactment to expand and deepen the purely verbal method of therapy. Psychodrama helps participants bring their inner experiences into the outer world through role-play and related action methods.

In classical psychodrama, a person’s story is enacted with other group members taking the needed roles. Various specialized psychodramatic techniques (e.g., role reversal, double, mirror) are used to expand the action and explore the inner reality of the protagonist (person whose story is being enacted in the psychodrama). Psychodramatic action can help a person achieve insight into a problem, express feelings, complete unfinished actions, and learn new ways of behaving. Psychodrama is typically practiced in groups, although psychodramatic techniques can also be used in individual settings. Psychodramatic methods can also be applied to non-therapy settings, such as personal growth, education and training, organizational consulting, and community development.