Application of psychodrama in social work

Psihodrama predstavlja akcijski oblik grupne psihoterapije. Tijekom psihodramskih seansi protagonistu grupe omogućeno je odigravanje osobnih životnih iskustva poput vlastitih problema, strahova ili trauma, a uz pomoć ostalih članova grupe, uz korištenje rekvizita te provedbom psihodramskih tehnika, s ciljem suočavanja s njima te mogućim doživljajem katarze ili doživljajem korigirajućeg iskustva. Kroz ovaj rad cilj je prikazati kako se psihodrama može primjenjivati u okviru grupnog socijalnog rada te koje dobiti korisnici mogu imati od nje. Prikazane su točke preklapanja grupnog socijalnog rada i psihodrame u načinu rada s korisnicima, poput ekološkog pristupa, oslanjanja na zdrave dijelove ličnosti, grupnog pristupa itd., te su navedene poneke prednosti primjene psihodrame u grupnom socijalnom radu koje mogu poticati na budući rad s korisnicima. Također, opisana je primjena psihodrame u svakodnevnoj praksi socijalnih radnika i to u sklopu rada s četiri kategorije korisnika: s osobama s duševnim smetanja, osobama ovisnima o ilegalnim drogama i/ili alkoholu, osobama koje su preživjele traumu te s adolescentima. Isto tako, detaljnije su opisane pozitivne promjene na korisnicima koje su postale vidljive nakon sudjelovanja u psihodramskim grupama, poput razvoja socijalnih vještina, prepoznavanja osobnih snaga i potencijala, prorade traumatskih iskustva, povećane razine opće dobrobiti, smanjenja simptoma duševnih smetnji itd.Psychodrama is an action method of group psychotherapy. During the psychodrama sessions, the protagonist is enable to reenact his personal life experiences such as his problems, fears or traumas etc., only through the help of other group members, with the use of props and through the implementation of psychodrama interventions, and with the aim of coping with them and to experience catharsis or corrective experience. The aim of this paper is to show how the psychodrama can be applied into the practice of group social work and what profits can it bring to its users. The overlap points of group social work and psychodrama are presented in working principles with users, such as ecological approach, reliance on the healthy parts and potentials of users, group approach etc., and also some advantages of using psychodrama which can increase future work with users. Also, the application of psychodrama in social worker's everyday practice is described within the four categories of users: people with mental disorders, people addicted to illegal drugs and/or alcohol, people who have survived trauma and adolescents. As well, the positive changes on users that accour because of their participation in psychodrama groups are described in the more detail way, such as the development of social skills, identified strengths and potentials, renegotiation of traumatic experiences, increased level of general well-being, reduced symptoms of mental disorders etc