Psychodrama group

I’ve been seriously considering joining a psychodrama group. My goal is to dive into my closest relationships—areas where things haven't exactly been smooth lately—and I’m fully prepared to look inward. If I can pinpoint exactly where my own behavior needs some recalibration, I want to do that work.

I would truly appreciate it if you could share your personal experiences regarding this process.

Every single iteration of group psychotherapy I’ve ever experienced was an absolute disaster. I can't recall a time when I felt such intense discomfort and repulsion. While everyone else seemed to surrender to the process and reap the benefits of these workshops, I walked away with nothing.

frozengardener7 said:Every single iteration of group psychotherapy I’ve ever experienced was an absolute disaster. I can't recall a time when I felt such intense discomfort and repulsion. While everyone else seemed to surrender to the process and reap the benefits of these workshops, I walked away with nothing.

I hear you.
It’s certainly no easy feat to open up and be vulnerable in front of a group like that.
But did you actually attend this specific one, or are you just considering it?

The price tag isn't exactly small, either—it's being run by a private practitioner, so... it’s one of those things that simultaneously attracts me and pushes me away.

Elizabeth Flores5 said:I hear you.
It’s certainly no easy feat to open up and be vulnerable in front of a group like that.
But did you actually attend this specific one, or are you just considering it?

The price tag isn't exactly small, either—it's being run by a private practitioner, so... it’s one of those things that simultaneously attracts me and pushes me away.

My advice is simple: just try it. 🙂

I've done everything—psychodrama, art therapy, meditation—you name it. 🕺

frozengardener7 said:My advice is simple: just try it. 🙂

I've done everything—psychodrama, art therapy, meditation—you name it. 🕺

Oof
Let me see what everyone else thinks first...
Between the actual cost and the commitment required to show up in person, it's a significant investment.

Elizabeth Flores5 said:Oof
Let me see what everyone else thinks first...
Between the actual cost and the commitment required to show up in person, it's a significant investment.

The most notorious group on Rib is the one run by actual psychiatrists! Dr. Staleker... high speed, high intensity, but plenty of people end up hitting rock bottom there, so watch yourself.

frozengardener7 said:Every single iteration of group psychotherapy I’ve ever experienced was an absolute disaster. I can't recall a time when I felt such intense discomfort and repulsion. While everyone else seemed to surrender to the process and reap the benefits of these workshops, I walked away with nothing.

Honestly, those of you claiming to reap all these rewards? You’re single-handedly destroying my faith in humanity. It’s just a bunch of people forced into an artificial group who shouldn't be sharing anything with one another—at most, maybe some space on a subway car.

Douglas Davis4 said:The most notorious group on Rib is the one run by actual psychiatrists! Dr. Staleker... high speed, high intensity, but plenty of people end up hitting rock bottom there, so watch yourself.

Personally, I don't think this guy is a psychiatrist; it feels more like "self-help" coaching. That said, I am expecting some real breakthroughs regarding myself and how I interact with others... trying to figure out why I attract certain types of people or why my close relationships and family dynamics always seem to go south. Real deep issues here.

Elizabeth Flores5 said:Personally, I don't think this guy is a psychiatrist; it feels more like "self-help" coaching. That said, I am expecting some real breakthroughs regarding myself and how I interact with others... trying to figure out why I attract certain types of people or why my close relationships and family dynamics always seem to go south. Real deep issues here.

To me, all this therapy stuff feels slow, hazy, and way too experimental. 🕺 What actually works for me are real bioenergetic treatments—not just any kind, but the deep karmic ones.

Douglas Davis4 said:To me, all this therapy stuff feels slow, hazy, and way too experimental. 🕺 What actually works for me are real bioenergetic treatments—not just any kind, but the deep karmic ones.

A friend of mine goes to those family constellation sessions, and honestly, when she talks about it, it sounds like little more than pseudo-shamanism to me. It works wonders for her, though... personally, I find psychodrama to seem a bit more "grounded," but it isn't cheap, and I have no intention of throwing my money down the drain.

Is this still actually happening during all the COVID craziness? Honestly, I’d much rather sign up for an assertiveness workshop—you know, one where you aren't just sitting there talking, but actually getting into some role-playing exercises and stuff.

Carl Brown152 said:Is this still actually happening during all the COVID craziness? Honestly, I’d much rather sign up for an assertiveness workshop—you know, one where you aren't just sitting there talking, but actually getting into some role-playing exercises and stuff.

Great concept, but a tough sell.

Elizabeth Flores5 said:A friend of mine goes to those family constellation sessions, and honestly, when she talks about it, it sounds like little more than pseudo-shamanism to me. It works wonders for her, though... personally, I find psychodrama to seem a bit more "grounded," but it isn't cheap, and I have no intention of throwing my money down the drain.

"Throwing money away"? Please. People have to find ways to kill time or fill some kind of void, right...? Compare that to some gambler who—instead of actually working—decides to turn a few grand into a fleeting high every week through pure luck. Or look at a coke addict burning hundreds of bucks a day just to feel something for an hour... you really think that's "not much money" for the payoff they get? Investing in yourself is never a waste. Almost never...

So, I tried out psychodrama through my outpatient program. Honestly? It was officially the most ridiculous form of therapy I’ve ever sat through.
I felt like such a waste of time being there—I would have been better off just sitting on my porch watching the grass grow. 😁

As part of the Rio program, led by Dr. Hrvoje Handl 🙏
Everything else in that whole curriculum was pretty much a waste of time—honestly, the only thing anyone actually looked forward to was showing up for his workshops.

Maria Price3 said:As part of the Rio program, led by Dr. Hrvoje Handl 🙏
Everything else in that whole curriculum was pretty much a waste of time—honestly, the only thing anyone actually looked forward to was showing up for his workshops.

Can you give me the lowdown on Rio? I’ve been thinking about signing up, but my work schedule is absolutely insane right now. I really need to know how they actually structured the program.

Emily Brown81 said:Can you give me the lowdown on Rio? I’ve been thinking about signing up, but my work schedule is absolutely insane right now. I really need to know how they actually structured the program.

It’s somewhat similar to an outpatient clinic setup—if my memory serves me right, it was two days a week for maybe two or three months. The curriculum included lectures regarding the disorder itself, psychodynamic groups, CBT, and art workshops. As for the lectures, it’s actually quite nice that anyone interested in getting a better grasp of the condition can join; there were a few partners and parents tagging along, but honestly, if you’ve done a bit of your own reading, you'll probably be up to speed. The psychodynamic group... well, it was pretty tedious. To me, it felt a bit like a competition to see who had the most traumatic childhood, though I suppose I'm just not wired for group therapy. The CBT portion was mediocre at best, though maybe someone else found it useful. The art group, however, was genuinely great. It was intense—lots of tears, plenty of laughter, poetry, music, some acting, choreography, and watching films. A lot of it really depends on who is leading the sessions, I guess. Personally, it didn't change much for me, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless. I'm not entirely sure if anything here helps besides the simple passage of time...

Maria Price3 said:As part of the Rio program, led by Dr. Hrvoje Handl 🙏
Everything else in that whole curriculum was pretty much a waste of time—honestly, the only thing anyone actually looked forward to was showing up for his workshops.

Dr. Hrvoje Handl even finished acting school, so I'm not surprised he's moved into psychodrama...

boldnomad45 said:Great concept, but a tough sell.

If anyone knows about anything like this being held—please, pass it along. I’ve been looking into this for ages... I really feel like I need it right now.

cosmicdriver42 said:Dr. Hrvoje Handl even finished acting school, so I'm not surprised he's moved into psychodrama...

Yeah, he definitely knows his stuff. Above all, he’s a musician (he mentioned how he basically paid off his college tuition through gigs). He’s a truly unique, interesting, and open guy, and more importantly, a high-quality psychiatrist. And even though he has that acting background, he "performs" less than any of those other doctors—I mean, you can tell he has that performer's streak in him, but it’s fine, it's well-channeled. He talks to patients normally; he'll be direct and honest about the issue, give you some common-sense advice, explain things professionally, and occasionally a well-placed "damn" might slip out... It just feels authentic. And that therapeutic technique using poetry (even though we could pick any poem we wanted, as long as it wasn't some cheesy country song 😬) was honestly such a wonderful group experience.

I was actually just watching one of his interviews where he talks about everything... and from what I can remember, he was exactly like that when he talked to us in therapy. That style of communication really worked for me.

So, if anyone is interested: