At New Directions for Women, we believe in addressing all aspects of the recovering woman. This includes unhealed wounds caused by childhood trauma.
We will be discussing psychodrama therapy in a four-part blog series. Psychodrama therapy is just one of the many services we offer to women who come to us for substance use disorder treatment.
In addition to this introductory article, we will also introduce different psychodrama techniques, discuss the therapeutic value of psychodrama exercises, and explain how you could benefit from psychodrama group therapy in later blogs.
First, let’s define psychodrama in simple terms.
Psychodrama is considered an experiential form of therapy that allows for the healing of past events by reenacting them in a group therapy setting with the help of a therapist and peers through role rehearsal and dynamic expression.
We will discuss the specifics of psychodrama in greater detail in the weeks to come during this blog series. For now, let’s focus on why this therapy is used in addiction treatment.
Psychodrama Therapy Helps Women Heal Childhood Wounds
Undergoing a Psychodrama session allows women in our care to quickly and spontaneously access emotions and insights they previously were unable to tap into for an emotional release.
Our Clinical Supervisor Gina Tabrizy, MS, LMFT has over thirty years of experience as a healer, and her demeanor and style are often called “magical”, “inspirational” and “incredibly healing”. Her expertise in trauma and addiction enables her to facilitate deep healing of the past using Psychodrama during weekly groups, and she has been leading them at NDFW for over fifteen years!
At New Directions for Women, we work hard to stay on the cutting edge of substance use disorder treatment, which is why we include psychodrama therapy in our recovery efforts.
The majority of the women who come to us for help with an addiction to drugs or alcohol enter treatment with deep childhood wounds.
These may include:
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Physical, mental, verbal, emotional, or spiritual abuse
- Domestic violence among parents or caregivers
- Abandonment from one or both parents
- Neglect
When a child experiences a traumatizing event as a child, this can create a wound that goes unhealed. This injury can continue to radiate unbearable pain years after the event, which can lead to self-medication. This can lead to a substance use disorder.
Let’s talk more about this.
PTSD is Common for Women Who Seek Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Psychodrama therapy is an effective way to treat women who are struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a substance use disorder, which is considered a dual diagnosis.
When women experience trauma in their early years of life, and this trauma is unresolved, they can suffer from undiagnosed PTSD after the event. Symptoms of this disorder can be completely debilitating. They include depression, anxiety, chronic nightmares, difficulty in relationships, employment issues, and other awful experiences.
Women often turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of PTSD, which often leads to addiction. Psychodrama techniques allow for a rewrite of a previous script that plays over and over in the mind. It targets underlying issues that led to addiction in the first place.
This is why psychodrama is one of the clinical services used in substance use disorder treatment at New Directions for Women. Through the use of group interaction and role play, this interactive method of therapy helps our patients investigate their inner and outer worlds and experiences. Psychodrama is action-oriented and helps women practice new behaviors in all areas of their lives.
The Recovery Process is About More Than Just Staying Sober
Most women go into the recovery process thinking sobriety will be a simple matter of abstinence from mind-altering substances. This is simply not the case. The truth is, staying clean is far more complex.
Psychodrama is used in addiction treatment because staying sober is about so much more than not putting drugs and alcohol in your body. Recovery is work. It’s about healing old wounds, confronting unresolved traumas, and identifying what triggered the addiction in the first place. This is where psychodrama therapy comes in.
Be sure to check out next week’s blog: The Therapeutic Value of Psychodrama Exercises.
New Directions for Women is Accepting New Clients During the COVID-19 Crisis
As our country continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, safety remains our number one concern at New Directions for Women. There is no question that addiction treatment is essential.
A substance use disorder is a life-threatening disease that requires immediate medical attention. As such, we are up and running and fully operational during these uncertain times. We take extensive safety precautions to ensure that everyone at our residential facility is protected from the spread of COVID-19.
Our virtual outpatient program is highly effective and allows women to participate in recovery from the comfort of home.
How can I talk to my kids about my recovery?
- When a request is made to talk, but it doesn’t feel like the right time for you—or you aren’t quite ready—understand that is fine, but don’t put it off. Pick a day and time to have a conversation about it, and plan or prepare. Ensure that the time, place, and space to talk are secure and that there won’t be interruptions or distractions. Setting a safe environment for the conversation will encourage a more thorough and thoughtful time.
- Share as much of your story as you feel comfortable with, and pause when you need to. Remember, you don’t owe your child, or anyone, every detail. Additionally, depending on the age of the children, these details wouldn’t be appropriate to disclose. The intention of sharing is about re-establishing an authentic reconnection. Your children will feel respected and valued by hearing the truth from you, in your own words.
- Use “I” language to take greater ownership. “I” language encourages a reclaiming of personal power, and we move into a stronger sense of responsibility when we only speak for ourselves and about ourselves, and our experiences. Setting these limits and boundaries with language can gently guide or incline our children to reflect on their true feelings and emotions.
Saying “You,” pulls us out of ourselves, separates us from our actions, and can lead to blame or accusatory tones that stifle, restrict, or cause tension in our communication.
- Take the opportunity to reflect on what you learned from your experience. Share the positive changes you have made, and the solutions you are committed to. Focus on where you are in life, and where you are going.
- Express an understanding that it will take time to rebuild the relationship and re-establish trust. Speak the truth from your heart, and hold space for any feelings that arise. Commend yourself, your bravery, and your courage in sharing.
It is so hard to see my children in pain. What are healthy ways to support their healing?
- Understand that you can’t heal their pain for them, but you can help them carry it by supporting their mental health and wellness. Individual, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) and family therapy are effective therapeutic modalities. If they are older, perhaps Al-Anon or Ala-teen meetings would be a good fit for art/play therapy.
- Try not to put demands on your child or yourself or assume life will go back to normal right away. The relationship may need to be rebuilt, or redefined. Children may express frustration, rage, or heartbreak in odd or painful ways. If what your child is saying is making you uncomfortable or upset, know that trying to stifle or silence them will only make it worse. Instead, acknowledge and validate their feelings, and seek out the support of professionals. Be patient with the process, and honor the pain that needs to be healed. Having expectations of immediate normalcy will lead to more hurt. As much as possible, maintain an open heart, and accept how it is uniquely unfolding for your family.
- Hear your children, but try not to let their frustration and anger cause you to beat yourself up or lose sight of what you are doing. Remember, it takes time for trust to be restored. Children respond differently to heartbreak and trauma, so try your best to not take it too personally if you are faced with silence, grumpiness, or rage. Your child is processing and starting the path to healing. Grieving and letting it out is a necessary part of that process. Hold space for them, as you hold space for yourself. Acknowledge their pain. Honor the time that the whole family needs to heal.
- Start slow. Show them who you are in recovery, and allow time for them to see the real you. If your children seem hesitant or distant, it’s okay. Uncertainty or exercising caution are normal responses to painful and traumatizing Be patient with yourself. Your children aren’t the only ones getting to know you again, you are getting to know yourself, as well.
- Try to see spontaneous breakthroughs and rapid relearning as adventures, and unknowns as curious gifts to be enjoyed. Love, play, and remember to have fun. A whole new world is waiting to be experienced, and a new journey together is waiting to be shared—a new life is waiting to be built.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder and would benefit from support in building a new life, contact us at New Directions for Women. We are a women and family-focused treatment facility that can provide residency for both you and your children. We also serve women without children.
Additionally, we offer supportive outpatient treatment for addiction issues and have a wide array of family therapies and resources. New Directions understands the importance of spirituality, meditation, and spending time in nature, and we have many opportunities for you to explore these healing modalities and activities. For more information, or to take the next step, contact us today.
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