Therapeutic Spiral International presents students in with the opportunity to receive an International Certification in Trauma Therapy Using the Therapeutic Spiral Model with the original developers, Dr Kate Hudgins, Ph.D., TEP and Francesca Toscani, M.Ed., TEP of this worldwide method of using psychodrama to safely treat trauma and even the most difficult clients.
The Therapeutic Spiral Model requires both attendance at the level 1 and 2 theory workshops listed below and satisfactory practicum experience either on a TSM team, or in the setting in which you work with education, therapy, and organizations with the properly qualified TSM supervision.
Supervision can only be given by TSM Trainers or Trainers doing their TSM Trainer Practicums under their own supervision by Dr Kate, the developer of the model.
All courses require reading of Experiential Therapy to Treat PTSD: The Therapeutic Spiral Model (2001) and The Therapeutic Spiral Model to Treat Trauma: Stories From the Frontlines (In Press). All courses will have handouts, with the majority of the learning in action with experiential demonstrations, live supervision, protagonist centered psychodramas, sociodrama and Playback Theatre using TSM.
Level One: The Basics of Psychodrama, Trauma, and the Therapeutic Spiral Model
Level 1 TSM Courses give you basic psychodrama skills of doubling, role reversal, sociometry, sociodrama, Playback Theatre, and other techniques from classical psychodrama plus the specific TSM interventions for safety when working with trauma or difficult students, clients, or managers.
Workshop 1: Safety, Neurobiology and Containment
5 days: 9am-6pm with one evening session in the middle. Total hours are: 32 hours (Lunch is included in hours in TSM!)
This first TSM workshop presents the overall template or protocol for how to do psychodrama safely regardless of what problem a protagonist or client presents. Participants will learn:
Core Psychodrama techniques, such as sociograms, role reversal, and other basics of any psychodrama.
The Six Safety Structures of TSM
The Neurobiology of PTSD in Action
The 3 Stages of TSM protocol: Prescriptive, Trauma-based, and Transformative Roles
The TSM Intervention of the Body Double for soothing and calming
The TSM Intervention of the Containing Double for containment, which can include making the container bigger, as well as smaller, for obsessive thoughts, defenses, and deep feelings.
Safe expression of deep feelings of grief, rage, despair, and terror.
Evening Session will focus on your plan for Level 1 Supervision.
Processing of Dramas and Team Roles
Participants will receive live supervision working in small groups, TSM dramas on the teaching team and during TSM dramas conducted by participants in the roles of Trained Auxiliary Ego, Assistant Leader, and Team Leader. Protagonist opportunities and personal growth are included as we learn in action.
Workshop 2: Working with Defenses and Personal Growth Workshop
5 days: 9am-6pm with one evening session in the middle. Total hours are: 32 hours (Lunch is included in hours in TSM!)
In the second TSM Series, learning will focus on the defenses people learn at the time of trauma, and then are stuck with in adulthood. After learning your own preferred defenses, you will have the opportunity for a full TSM Personal Growth Workshop. Participants will learn:
The Three Types of Defenses: Survival, Maladaptive, and Coping
The TSM Intervention the Manager of Defenses and how to use it in education, therapy, and organizations.
Applications to your own work setting and further discussion of your supervision plan.
Which defenses you use the most frequently and how to transform them into higher order coping skills
Personal opportunity to both experience and participate in a full TSM Personal Growth Weekend
Use of an Art Project during the Personal Growth part of the workshop
Opportunities to be on the Teaching team as well as trying out new team roles during dramas in the teaching part of the workshop.
Processing of the dramas and team roles.
This workshop presents a deeper understanding of the power of TSM in individual, couples, group, family, and organizational settings. Participants gain a deep look at their own defenses and learn how to change their own life. A powerful workshop includes both teaching and personal growth.
Workshop 3: The Trauma Triangle and Changing Trauma Roles
5 days: 9am-6pm with one evening session in the middle. Total hours are: 32 hours (Lunch is included in hours in TSM!)
The workshop completes the Level 1 TSM course in the 2-year series and begins the focus on the trauma-based roles by learning the Trauma Triangle created by TSM. Participants will learn:
The Trauma Triangle and the many uses for it in education, therapy, and organizations
Assessment of these TSM Trauma-based Roles of Victim, Perpetrator, and Abandoning Authority
How to safely enact the Trauma-based Roles without re-traumatizing the brain
Learn your own pattern on the Trauma Triangle
Personal dramas to change the Trauma-based Roles in your life
Discussion and evaluation of supervision requirements for Level 1
Processing of dramas and team roles.
This workshop teaches participants the core of safe enactment of difficult roles when working with protagonists, classrooms, and organizations. You learn both how to assess the roles through the Trauma Triangle and how to create change for yourself and your clients. This workshop completes the Level 1 Theoretical Courses and provides guidance for the supervision needed to receive Level 1 Certification in Trauma Therapy Using the Therapeutic Spiral Model.
Level 2: Advanced Clinical TSM Courses
Level 2 courses teach participants the clinical skills of a Ph.D. psychologist and how they influence experiential action work in education, therapy and organizations. During Level 2, participants will learn clinical skills that are not taught in any other psychodrama training program in the world. They provide deep learning about the psychodramatic process and about yourself.
Workshop 4: Team Roles as Clinicians and Directing Practice
This Level 2 workshop explores the Team Roles in depth and how to work both with and without a team using the clinical principles and structures of TSM. No matter what role you prefer or have become skilled at, this workshop will teach you how to work together as an open, honest, and transparent team. Participants will learn:
The subtle nuances of each team role of TAE, AL, TL and Trainer and how they work together as an organic whole.
How to use the group skills of the Assistant Leader without a Team
How to communicate openly and honestly during team meetings to stay clear of your own personal issues when working.
Directing practice under live supervision in all roles
Art Project of making a Director’s Wand
Personal growth in working with other people on a team
Processing of dramas and directing by students.
Evening session will focus on developing Supervision Plan for level 2
By the end of this Level 2 workshop, participants will have identified their strengths and vulnerabilities of working in the roles of TAE, AL, TL, and Trainer. They will have opportunities to work both with and without a team, while still using the clinical skills of the AL role in all settings, including education, therapy, and organizations.
Workshop 5: Transference and Countertransference
This workshop teaches the clinical concepts of transference, and countertransference one and two, and how to work with them to keep individuals, groups, families, and organizations safe with action work. Participants will learn:
The signs of transference from clients or students, including positive, negative and erotic transference
Type one countertransference that you take to your supervisor or team meeting so not to interfere with your clinical work in all settings.
Type two countertransference that you can use to help students and clients to realize their impact on others that is generalized and pervasive in many interactions.
How to use Type 2 countertransference to give feedback to students and clients with gentleness and containment.
Practice in working with transference and countertransference in small groups as well as full dramas.
Processing of dramas from the clinical view of transference and countertransference.
Further discussion and evaluation of Level 2 supervision plan.
This workshop teaches participants a deep understanding of the clinical concepts and enactments of transference and countertransference and how it can either help or hurt the action process. Participants will also learn to look at their own issues surrounding these issues.
Workshop 6: Projective Identification and Claiming Your Ultimate Authority
This workshop teaches the difficult to understand clinical concept of Projective Identification through action exercises and during individual and group sessions. As you learn how to identify and use PIs to help students and clients in education, therapy, and organization, you will also learn how to use it in service of the person or group instead of letting it get in your way. Participants will learn:
To intellectually understand the clinical concept of Projective Identification
To experience and label the feelings that are projected onto you as an individual from others
To learn how to set boundaries to protect yourself from being triggered into your own issues.
To learn how to use PIs in the service of others as you help them label unconscious feelings and how they project them onto others.
To claim your own ultimate authority as a clinically trained TSM educator and practitioner. Those doing Trainer practicums will then be given the authority to supervise or train others and give them International Certification Credit in the TSI Program on Trauma Therapy Using the Therapeutic Spiral Model.
Processing of dramas from the viewpoint of the use of PIs.
Celebration of completing the theoretical courses for TSM International Certification
Discussion and plan for any additional supervision needed to complete Level 2.
This workshop completes the 2-year series of TSM theory courses that leads to International Certification in Trauma Therapy Using the Therapeutic Spiral Model. Participants may be certified as TAE, AL, TL, or Trainer depending upon completion of supervision plans and requirements met by the end of the theory courses. Most people should be able to reach the level of Team Leader providing they conduct adequate practice under qualified supervision.
