One-to-one psychodrama as a tool in transgenerational psychotherapy: theory and practice

The examination of transgenerational transmission, published in the Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie (ZPS), has garnered attention in psychogenealogy and, more recently, in epigenetics, delving into the profound impact of ancestral lives on an individual’s self-perception, relationships, and overall well-being. The transgenerational approach in psychotherapy investigates the influence of unconscious familial inheritance, such as traumas, attitudes, illnesses, and loyalties. The Genosociogram, as a central diagnostic tool, visually represents the family history through the client’s lenses, revealing repetitive and maladaptive patterns. In a one-to-one context, the therapist collaborates with the client to explore family history and dynamics, utilizing psychodramatic techniques to illuminate these aspects. One-to-one transgenerational psychodrama, rooted in the classical group method, uses basic psychodrama techniques, but also employs tools from psychogenealogy and art expression to assist individuals in recognizing and addressing these issues. This collaborative process helps the client gain profound insights into their family system, shedding light on how transgenerational inheritance shaped their behaviors and choices, creating new paths for the future.