Sparc of spontaneity: creating integration between social work, sociometry, and psychodrama

ABSTRACT

This manuscript will provide an overview of the content and process of this author’s International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG)-endorsed SPARC project, a DSW dissertation and curriculum development integrating social work with groups with sociometry, psychodrama, and experiential trauma therapy. The narrative will be presented through the framework of Moreno’s Canon of Creativity with reflection on the parallel processes between the personal experience of the author, the development of the SPARC project, and the larger social work with groups landscape. This manuscript will depict the author’s personal warming-up process and the prospect of the social work field integrating sociometry and psychodrama into its professional repertoire. This project advocates for the implementation of sociometry and psychodrama processes to enliven social group work practice and social work education through action-based groups and experiential teaching methods. Examples of experiential sociometry, psychodrama, and sociodrama are provided from the author’s dissertation proposal presentation, dissertation defense, and facilitation of teaching sessions for incoming DSW students at the University of Pennsylvania.

KEYWORDS:

• Social group work
• sociometry
• psychodrama
• nondeliberative group work
• experiential education
• group work
• social work with groups

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.