The Michigan Psychodrama Center provides psychodrama students with all of the supervision and training necessary to obtain psychodrama certification. However, to be clear, the Michigan Psychodrama Center does not independently certify psychodrama practitioners or psychodrama trainers.
Instead, the MPC provides all of the training and supervision hours that are necessary for and can be utilized by all individuals wishing to obtain certification through the American Board of Psychodrama Examiners (ABE). The ABE is the only organization that can provide certification in psychodrama. However, the ABE does not provide the training necessary for certification, and that training can only be obtained from and through individuals and organizations like the Michigan Psychodrama Center.
If the MPC Does Not Provide Psychodrama Certification, What Kind of Training Does MPC Provide?
The MPC has the capacity to provide almost everything that is necessary and required for any student wishing to apply for psychodrama certification with the ABE. Concisely, this includes training hours and supervision. Since its founding in 2015, the MPC has trained dozens of therapists, lawyers, clergy and other individuals and professional in the theory and practice of psychodrama.
The journey toward Psychodrama Certification is set forth, in detail, on the ABE’s website. And make no mistake, it is a journey. If you’re interested in psychodrama certification, the first thing to understand is that obtaining certification will be a year’s long journey. And you can’t get the skills, training, education or experience necessary from any academic intuition such as a college or university. There’s no such thing as a degree in psychodrama. This is because psychodrama is a “learn by doing” modality, and certification is therefore obtained using an apprenticeship model. However, the rigor necessary to obtain psychodrama certification is not unlike that necessary to obtain a PhD.
The apprenticeship model has historically been associated with the training in the professions, such as medicine, law, the arts, and clergy. As the universities have taken the place of guides for these academic pursuits, trade unions have largely replaced guilds for vocational training. Psychodrama is unquestionably an academic pursuit, but for reasons that are beyond the scope of this writing, no universities have stepped in to provide a psychodrama degree.
With psychodrama, the ABE effectively stands in the place of the psychodrama guild, and like the guilds of old, the ABE sets and maintains standards for the quality (in this case competency) of all certified practitioners and trainers.
Also, like the professions and trades of old, to become a certified psychodrama practitioner or trainer, the student seeking certification selects a “master” from whom to learn the “craft.” In obtaining their TEP certification for example, Patrick selected Ann Hale as his primary trainer. Elizabeth was trained by Tian Dayton. The student works with their trainer to achieve increasing levels of competency and attempts to follow their trainer who provides instruction, feedback and direction along with way.
The founding members of the Michigan Psychodrama Center, Patrick Barone and Dr. Elizabeth Corby have both been certified as TEPs by the ABE, and therefore they can both offer all of the certification training hours and supervision necessary to obtain certification. Training hours obtained from the MPC never expire.
What Are the Levels of Psychodrama Certification Available Through the ABE?
The Michigan Psychodrama Center can assist students in obtaining the three levels of psychodrama certification offered by the ABE. These include CP certification, PAT and TEP certification. These are progressive levels of certification, each having its own guidelines and standards. They are also progressive. One cannot obtain TEP certification without first becoming a PAT, and one cannot become a PAT without first have achieved CP certification.
The acronym CP stands for “certified practitioner” psychodrama. A person who is certified as a CP has been deemed by the ABE as having obtained the skills necessary to direct a psychodrama session and has demonstrated that they possess the skills and knowledge relevant to the practice of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy.
For an more details about the journey toward ABE certification see: Patrick Barone Becomes Michigan’s First Lawyer Certified as a Trainer Educator Practitioner of Psychodrama.
What are the requirements for CP certification?
Before being a candidate for supervision, a student must have attained a minimum of 780 hours of training in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy from individuals appropriately certified by the ABE. Up to as many as of 100 hours of the required 780 training hours may be waived if the student has at least a master’s level licensed mental health professional. The same is true for those who have separately obtained certification in related field, such as art, dance, or music therapy.
Additionally, the CP candidate must have obtained a minimum of fifty-two weeks of supervised experience in psychodrama, which must be comprised of at least 80 psychodrama sessions of at least 60 minutes each. Please visit the ABE website for more details in this regard.
What are the requirements to become a PAT
The next highest level of ABE certification is that of PAT. This stands for “practitioner application for trainer.” The PAT designation is applicable to those who have achieved the CP designation/certification and who have declared that they have a desire to become a Trainer Educator and Practitioner of psychodrama. This designation is obtained through the ABE after the CP has been nominated by a TEP.
How is TEP certification obtained from the ABE?
TEP certification is the highest level of psychodrama certification offered by the ABE. A TEP has been qualified to be a “trainer, educator and practitioner” of psychodrama. TEPs are gate-keepers of the profession of psychodrama because one cannot become a CP without the endorsement of at least two TEPs. CP certification also requires a third professional endorsement.
Both PATs and TEPs can provide training hours to individuals wishing to obtain CP and TEP certifications. To become a TEP the CP candidate must have obtained supervision for a minimum of 144 additional hours of training workshops. In other words, the TEP candidate must train psychodrama students, under the supervision of someone who has obtained TEP certification. These training workshops must offer training to psychodrama students in the theory and practice of psychodrama, with a minimum total training period of 144 hours of training provided.
The TEP candidate must also maintain, increase, and continue their professional education as well, and can’t simply “rest on their laurels.” To obtain the TEP certification, the ABE requires a minimum of 100 hours of post-graduate professional development in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy and/or related fields.
How Does One Become a Student with the Michigan Psychodrama Center and Begin Earning the Hours of Training and Supervision to Apply for Certification with the American Board of Psychodrama Examiners?
The first thing to do is to contact us to discuss your interest with us! If you think the MPC would be a good fit, then you might consider becoming a student of the MPC. As a student you can begin attending our seminars, workshops and student training group, and thus begin your journey toward psychodrama certification!
No all students of the Michigan Psychodrama Center have the desire to become certified. Many of our students have attended our seminars to learn more about psychodrama and to learn some basic skills that they can apply in their professional and personal lives. However, those students wishing to obtain certification are strongly encouraged to carefully review all of the requirements set forth on the ABE website, and develop a plan with Patrick or Elizabeth for how they will begin meeting these requirements.
In his capacity as a business consultant, Mr. Barone has worked with business owners and executives in businesses of all sizes throughout Michigan.
Additionally, Mr. Barone continues to practice law and is the founding partner and CEO at the Barone Defense Firm.