A pizza radio psychodrama when we talk about eating disorders

I had the great opportunity to visit with Ted Ehlen of WRJN  in Racine, Wis., to talk about my new book (with co-author Linda Ciotola) Healing Eating Disorders with Psychodrama and Other Action Methods: Beyond the Silence and the Fury. Listen how we create a mini-drama during the radio interview with the characters of Ted, Pizza and Health. We could have added Scale if we had a little more time.

Meet you in Oakland, Calif., for our psychodrama conference

This year we'll have people who love psychodrama to gather, learn, play, talk, share -- and psychodramatize!

It's the annual conference of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama. The dates are April 3-7 in Oakland, Calif. Today, Feb. 7, is the last day to get the discount for conference attendance.

Catalog of workshops and registration details here.

I've been invited to present, and my workshop  Eating Disorders and the Ancestors Connection on Saturday, April 5. Psychotherapy for eating disorders traditionally looks at the immediate life of the person seeking help. As we widen our perspective – that many of our problems may have roots in intergenerational family trauma - the integration of psychodrama and constellation work offers new tools to understand and heal. In this workshop, we identify hidden intergenerational issues relating to eating disorders and how to select interventions that honor suffering, promote strength and allow love to flow.

If you're going, watch for our book signing evening and look for me and my coauthor Linda Ciotola signing our book, Healing Eating Disorders with Psychodrama and Other Action Methods: Beyond the Silence and the Fury. I also hope to have my newest book, Modern Psychodrama, available, which is in press right now.

 How about you? Will I see you there?

Eating disorders & psychodrama book is out!

The book, Healing Eating Disorders with Psychodrama and Other Action Methods: Beyond the Silence and the Fury, has been birthed!

We -- Linda Ciotola and I -- show and tell how psychodrama and other action methods are especially helpful in the treatment of the classic eating disorders as well as dieting struggles, body dissatisfaction and associated issues of fear, sadness, silence and shame. This book provides clinicians with sound theoretical information, practical treatment guidelines and a wealth of clinically-tested action structures and interventions.
 
We tell how we have introduced action methods to work with a diverse range of clients, and suggest ways in which psychodrama practitioners, experiential therapists and others may integrate these methods into their practices.

The book offers fresh ideas for tailoring psychodramatic standards such as The Living Newspaper, Magic Shop and the social atom to eating disorder issues, with extensive examples of psychodrama interventions - classic and specially adapted for eating disorders - for experienced practitioners and those new to experiential therapies. We demonstrate how how psychodrama can be used in combination with other expressive, holistic and complementary approaches, including family constellations, music, art, imagery, ritual, Five Element Acupuncture, yoga, Reiki and other energy work.

Read the first two chapters of the book here.

We have been honored with wonderful endorsements not only from Zerka Moreno, the co-developer of psychodrama, and other respected practitioners and trainers in the psychodramatic community but also from other disciplines:

"Thanks for this creative way in which you both jointly have composed a book like this, on a very serious and little understood disease. A book on this disorder has been badly needed." -- Zerka Moreno, TEP, co-developer of psychodrama and most recently author of To Dream Again: A Memoir.

"Here is a creative and refreshing integration of action methods, and the use of other creative and expressive arts, well-grounded in current scientific research on what really works in therapy. There is a wealth of vivid clinical vignettes and the authors also offer variations, making this truly useful to practitioners. -- Adam Blatner, M.D., TEP,  blogger, author of Foundations of Psychodrama: History, Theory and Practice

"With a focus on action methods, neuroscience and trauma, this book gives experienced psychodramatists and clinicians new to the field effective and safe ways of using action to heal both women and men struggling with eating disorders, and help them transform their lives. A valuable addition to the library of anyone in the field." -- Rebecca Walters, LCAT, LMHC, TEP, co-director of the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute 

"This innovative book on eating disorders and safe action therapy is a seminal contribution to both fields of psychotherapy.  The authors, Carnabucci and Ciotola, share their experience as clinical practitioners of safe psychodrama, constellation work, and other body-based healing practices such as the Therapeutic Spiral Model, in eloquent stories of important healing work with people healing from eating disorders.  A must have for your library if you work with people that have eating disorders in themselves or their families." -- Kate Hudgins, Ph.D., TEP, developer of the Therapeutic Spiral Model

"The authors have managed to span the human experience, the science and the healing experience in  dramatic and intellectually challenging ways. They write not only from highly developed professional selves but also from deeply attuned experiential selves." -- Nancy Alexander, LCSW-C, psychotherapist and author, Columbia, Md.

"This book is a wonderful tool to the therapist who specializes in eating disorders and is looking for psychodrama techniques to assist with the healing. It is comprehensive in its approach to eating disorders, and issues with the body, trauma, and food. I know the authors who are dedicated healers. A welcomed addition to the psychodrama and eating disorder fields." -- Mary Bellofatto, MA, LMHC, NCC, charter member of International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and trainer, educator and practitioner of psychodrama, sociometry and group  psychotherapy.

"Karen and Linda bring both their skill as psychodramatists as well as their sensitivity as healing practitioners to their writing, creating a work that is long overdue in the field. It is thoughtful, practical, and eminently readable; a valuable resource for anyone working with this population." --  Mario Cossa, MA, RDT/MT, TEP, and author of Rebels with a Cause: Working with Adolescents with Action Techniques

 "This work represents a synthesis of tremendous knowledge and skill acquired over years of working with people with eating disorders. I highly encourage everyone to take advantage of the wisdom, creative ideas, and concrete techniques included. Linda and Karen bring a wealth of talent -- in psychodrama, yoga, bodywork, holistic health, spirituality, nutrition, Constellation work, and many other areas -- to their collaboration. The book is clearly written , well-organized and contains many ideas and techniques readers can readily apply to their practice settings." -- Catherine D. Nugent, LPC, TEP, psychotherapist, psychodramatist, Laurel, Md.
  
"Clear, graceful writing and terrific content." -- Joan Lewin, dance-movement psychotherapist and author of Dance Therapy Notebook

"I'm using your book for my eating disorder group -- beautifully written, user friendly and warm, plus great exercises and cases." -- Nancy Kirsner, Ph.D., OTR, TEP,  South Florida Center for Psychodrama, Miami, Fla.

"This book is perfectly compelling! I think it's a textbook for folks who are at the master's degree or better level. Yet it's written in such a way that even the layperson can read it with comprehension and be then inspired to seek help for themselves or a loved one!" — Antoinette Fiumos, M.Ac, DOM, AP, acupuncturist and nutritionist, Sarasota, Fla.

Our eating disorders & psychodrama book is on its way!

I'm thrilled to report my new book with psychodramatist Linda Ciotola, M.Ed., TEP, titled “Healing Eating Disorders with Psychodrama and Other Action Methods: Beyond the Silence and the Fury,” has just been accepted for publication by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

We don’t yet know the publication schedule but we're excited and want to share the good news. We think it is the first book to address the topic of eating disorders and psychodrama and in addition to clinical applications, we will be including some great new info about incorporating education, yoga, movement, nutrition, Reiki, family constellation work, mindfulness and more.

We are both psychodramatists and psychodrama trainers, and representative of the many fields  -- mental health, education, law, business and consulting -- that use the valuable method of psychodrama.  I am a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist and personal growth coach and Linda is an educator, fitness trainer and yoga instructor and the founder of Healing Bridges in Maryland.

We'll keep you posted as details arrive from the publisher. In the meanwhile, join our Facebook page and see an earlier blog post which includes a training handout here.

Psychodrama has powerful results with eating disorders

Linda Ciotola and "body book," an awareness activity.

With today marking the start of National Eating Disorders Week, today is a good time to spotlight the use of action methods for the treatment of eating disorders.

The use of psychodrama is especially helpful with the treatment of  traditional eating disorders as well as “dieting disorders” and a range of difficulties with body image. As I put together my next book with co-author and sister psychodramatist Linda Ciotola, I'm reminded again about the complexity of eating disorders and the amazing power of psychodrama.

Our book, titled "Healing Eating Disorders with Psychodrama and Other Action Methods: Beyond the Silence and the Fury," has just been accepted for publication by Jessica Kingsley Publishers and you will see it soon. In the meanwhile, you may enjoy my sample eating disorder training handout for trainees here.

To read about Linda Ciotola's innovative work with eating disorders and several articles about psychodrama, see her web site here.

A number of practitioners and psychodramatists, including Kim Burden, Monica Callahan, Kathy Metcalf, Colleen Baratka, Mary Bellofatto and Linda Ciotola have devoted some or all of their professional work to eating disorders. Listen to Mary Bellofatto, a psychodramatist who is a member of the board of directors for the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, talk about the value of psychodrama here. You may also find one of Mary's handouts here. 

Both the sociometric and the experiential nature of the modality help eating disorder patients in a number of ways. Sociometrically, the understanding of roles the patient plays — including the self-destructive roles — is a first step in enhancing new roles that are healthy and self-caring.

With psychodrama, the client is able to experience her relationship with the eating disorder as well learn more about its role in her life. The psychodramatic group is another plus, as people with eating disorders are often isolated from others and tend to use food or the misuse of food to avoid relationships with people.

Here's a short video about psychodrama with Angelina Gonzalez, therapist at the Oliver  Pyatt Centers, talking about the basics of psychodrama: