Psychodramatic methods uncover transgenerational traces in an individual supervision

This article, published in the Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziomterie (ZPS), describes applications of one-to-one psychodrama in a particularly interesting individual supervision. A professional conflict between the supervisee and her superior (manager) turned out to be profound. The key to the solution lay in uncovering transgenerational traces in the client’s family history, which had their roots in the complex structure of a socialist society. The use of the psychodramatic interview technique as well as knowledge about the ‘creative circle’, empty chair work, role reversal, doubling and the use of soft toys were helpful. The work revealed parts of a ‘post-socialist personality’. It is particularly difficult for them to experience themselves as independent in a conflict, to show themselves and to assert themselves. Instead, aggressive impulses tend to be expressed in a submissive or paradoxical manner. In addition to describing the use of specific psychodramatic techniques, a link is made to Fonagy’s concept of ‘mentalisation’, which sheds light on the underlying effectiveness of the use of one-to-one psychodrama in supervision.