Frankenstein, the Hero's Journey- Drama Workshop with Medical Students

I recently had the privilege to facilitate a drama workshop with forty medical students from the International Medical University. Kali Chandrasegaram, who is a professional dancer based in the United Kingdom had graciously co- facilitated the workshop with me.  We had thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The theme of the day was Frankenstein. Our workshop was on connecting the story of Frankenstein to the Hero’s Journey.

We had actually all positive feedback from the students. Many of them had discovered or rediscovered the creative part of themselves which they had kept dormant for a long time. 

One of the comments that we had is ‘I really enjoyed being able to use crayons and magic pens again. The last time I had used them was when I was a child’. Another which left a deep impact is ‘I feel so open after this.. I don’t really know why. I just feel so open’. Several of the participants also commented that the workshop was also a welcomed break from all that constant and intense studying.

What I had witnessed was that the participants were reconnecting with themselves… their true self, through exploring and expressing their own creativity and play. Their comments and feedback of their experience of the workshop came from their hearts and was very much appreciated by all of us in the room. For that duration of the workshop, that space became a sacred space… I felt very grateful to have had the experience of witnessing the ‘magic’ which happened in that space. I would like to thank all of the participants for the experience of bearing witness to the alchemy which happened within them in that space.

New Job

I had just begun working for an NGO which helps spread awareness about child sexual abuse and provide therapy for survivors of sexual abuse. Just like most of the full time jobs which I have had in the past years, being  hired for  this job also  happened with interesting synchronicity.
I am already in the process of expansion of my knowledge and skills in the past week and I look forward for more of that experience in the future, in this job.

Dramatherapy Workshop for Counselors and Psychologists organized by University Putra Malaysia

On the 17^th of July 2012 I had the pleasure of facilitating a Dramatherapy workshop organized by UPM (University Putra Malaysia) for counselors, psychologists, psychotherapists and academicians from various universities in Malaysia.

The workshop had twenty two participants who were very enthusiastic to learn about how they can utilize some of the skills used in dramatherapy into their practice as counselors and psychologists.

We explored the hero’s journey… as one of the main activities..   The process and the outcome was insightful for the participants, as most of the dramatherapy work which I do… It always fascinates me what comes through in these workshops.  And more importantly, it is always a pleasure to have imparted some of what I know to others and for them to find out more about themselves. For most people it is about how creative they actually are and many ‘aha’ moments and having lots of fun in the process. Although it can get serious and for those who are facing certain life stresses, which may come up during the workshop,  it maybe emotional at times. The element of play, fun and imagination enables them to see the light at the end of the tunnel and often a way to handle their problems.