Back

Welcome to the website of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP)!

If you are a member of the organization, thank you for supporting ASGPP and being part of our society! If you are visiting, we are excited to connect with you and be a source of information about the ASGPP’s culture and opportunities.

ASGPP is a Nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status. Founded in 1942 by Dr. Jacob Levy Moreno, MD (1889-1974), ASGPP is the first and oldest organization in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy in the United States as well as Internationally. The culture of our organization is unique – created and co-created by generations of professionals and supporters of the action and experiential methods; a wellbalanced combination of the traditional and the new; keeping alive best practices, but also accomplishing many new cultural achievements; showing great hospitality to both longtime members of the ASGPP, and the many new members from the United States and Internationally.

The best time to meet most of the ASGPP members and supporters is at our Annual Conferences, offering great speakers and over 90 workshops; presenting you with an opportunity for networking, connecting, marketing professional services, learning and experiencing great joy.

We invite you to explore the wide variety of resources on our website. The Mission Statement defines the ASGPP as promoting “the development of creativity, spontaneity and encounter to enhance the relationship between individuals, families and communities, and works actively to heal and transform society through the knowledge and practice of psychodrama, group psychotherapy and sociometry in all its diverse applications.” The purposes of the Society describe the organization as fostering “national and international cooperation of all who are concerned with the theory and practice of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy;” contributing to the “well-being of individuals, groups, families, and organizations;” engaging the “general public, other professionals, and public policy makers;” encouraging training and research; and maintaining a code of professional standards, relevant to the purposes of the society.”

The website will introduce to you the current Executive Council, the Committees, Award Recipients and more. You will be able to join the Research Listserv to participate in ongoing discussions, collaborations, sharing of resources and ideas. The specifics of the method and definitions on psychodrama; sociometry; and sociodrama are included as written definitions and videos. You will learn about the continuing education hours offered by the organization. Our website will connect you with the website of the American Board of Examiners, where you will find certification standards, procedures and trainers. The website hosts the three ASGPP outlets – the Journal; Newsletter – Psychodrama Network News (PNN); and the monthly Tele’Gram. Various books, articles and learning instruments from around the world can be found or purchased through the ASGPP library. The history of the organization can be tracked back through past conference brochures, the PNN and the action images.

The ASGPP website hosts the pages for joining or renewing membership – individual or organizational; both for domestic and international members. To those who are certified through the American Board of Examiners (ABE), we offer the status of an ASGPP Diplomate. We hope that you will sustain as a member and a part of our culture.

Upcoming Events of the organization and its members are regularly published on the website. Opportunities for advertising and marketing your businesses are also available.

J.L.Moreno emphasized in his philosophy the meaning of the term Moment, using the metaphor, “The locus of a flower is in the bed where it is growing. Its status nascendi is that of a growing thing as it springs from the seed. Its matrix is the fertile seed”. (Foundations of Sociometry, 1941b, vol.4, p.15-35). The ‘Moment’ of the today’s American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP), was created from the seeds planted in the past; then the organizational growth , gently carried by everyone involved; until it became a unique flower in the field of psychotherapy and the social sciences. A flower that will produce new seeds for the future of mental health, human relations and social wellbeing! Thank you for being a part of this important process and for supporting ASGPP!

Sincerely,

Daniela SimmonsDaniela Simmons, PhD, TEP

President, ASGPP

About ASGPP

Mission Statement

The American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama is rooted in the philosophy of Dr. Moreno. The ASGPP promotes the development of creativity, spontaneity and encounter to enhance the relationship between individuals, families and communities, and works actively to heal and transform society through the knowledge and practice of psychodrama, group psychotherapy and sociometry in all its diverse applications.

The Purposes of the Society:

  1. To foster the national and international cooperation of all who are concerned with the theory and practice of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy;
  2. To encourage and promote professional training in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy;
  3. To promote the spread and fruitful application of theories and methods of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy in professional disciplines concerned with the well-being of individuals, groups, families, and organizations;
  4. To disseminate information about psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy and their applications to the general public, other professionals, and public policy makers;
  5. To promote and publish research in psychodrama, sociometry, group psychotherapy, and related fields, and;
  6. To maintain a code of professional standards relevant to the purposes of the society.

To view the current ASGPP Bylaws (last revised December 2022), please click here.

View the list of officers and members of the Executive Council who plan and direct all of the activities of the ASGPP.

Officers

Daniela Simmons

Daniela Simmons

President
Deb-VP-square

Deborah Shaddy

Vice President
Janell Adair

Janell Adair

Treasurer
rsewellpic2

Regina Sewell

Secretary

Executive Council

pamela-g

Pamela Goffman, LCSW, TEP, CIRT

Executive Council
mugshot

Mark Wentworth

Executive Council
Scott 2022

Scott Giacomucci

Executive Council
Edward Schreiber, TEP

Edward Schreiber, TEP

Executive Council
Screen Shot 2023-04-19 at 1.52.06 PM

Karen Levin Moser LCSW, CP, PAT

Executive Council
Screen Shot 2023-04-19 at 1.49.57 PM

Erica Hollander, JD, PhD, TEP

Executive Council

ASGPP Committees List 2022 – 2023

  • Leadership Committee

    Chairs: President: Daniela Simmons (danielatsv@gmail.com), Vice President: Deborah Shaddy (debshaddy@gmail.com), Secretary: Rhona Case (psychobabble3@yahoo.com), Treasurer: Janell Adair (janellasgpp@gmail.com)

    (The following committees are listed in alphabetical order)

  • Awards Committee

    Chair: Darlene Vanchura
    Members: David Moran, Jennifer Salimbene

  • Bylaws Committee

    Chair: Erica Hollander (ericahollander@comcast.net)
    Members: Rebecca Walters, Carol Feldman-Bass

  • Conference Committee

    Chairs: Pamela Goffman (pgoffman@aol.com),
    Rhona Case (psychobabble3@yahoo.com), Rebecca Walters (hvpi@hvpi.net)

  • Conference Program Committee

    Chairs: Pamela Goffman (pgoffman@aol.com), Rebecca Walters (hvpi@hvpi.net)
    Members: will be named after the proposal selection process is completed

  • Education Committee

    Chair: Uneeda Brewer
    Members: Daniela Simmons, Carley Foster, Carol Feldman-Bass

  • Finance Committee

    Chair: Janell Adair (janellasgpp@gmail.com)
    Members: Rhona Case, Uneeda O. Brewer

  • International Committee

    Chairs: Mark Wentworth, UK (mark@colourforlife.com), Cristina Schmidt, Austria (cristina@transgenerational.eu)
    Members: Anath Garber (USA), Carolina Becerril (France)

  • Membership Committee

    Chairs: Rhona Case (psychobabble3@yahoo.com), Deborah Shaddy (debshaddy@gmail.com)
    Members: Lori Budman, Bill Wysong, Tzivia Stein-Barrett, Betty Garrison, Aimee Johnson

  • Nominating Committee

    Chair: Colleen Baratka
    Members: Colleen Baratka, Basil Vareldzis, Anath Garber, Menzo Faaseen

  • Professional Standards Committee

    Chair: Erica Hollander
    Members:  Steve Kopp, Dena Baumgartner

  • Publications Committee

    Chair: Daniela Simmons (danielatsv@gmail.com)
    Members: Scott Giacomucci, Thomas Treadwell, Ed Schreiber, Paul Lesnik, Tanja Lynne Lee

  • Publicity Committee

    Chairs: Karen Carnabucci (realtruekaren@gmail.com), Rebecca Walters (hvpi@hvpi.net)
    Members: Daniela Simmons, Louise Lipman, Conference Committee Representative(s)

  • Research Committee

    Chairs: Scott Giacomucci (scott@sgiacomucci.com), Rob Pramann (utahSSCCC@aol.com)
    Members: Carlos Raimundo, Tom Treadwell, Cece Yocum, Orge Kantas

  • Scholarship Committee

    Chair: Mary Anna Palmer (psychodramacenter@gmail.com)

  • Sociatry & Social Justice Committee

    Chair: Deborah Karner (deborah.karner@gmail.com)
    Members: Peg Lane, Michael Watson, Ed Schreiber, Sheila Katzman, Jennie Kristel, Aimee Johnson, Anne Lukins, Mary Anna Palmer

  • Website Committee

    Chair: Regina Sewell (regsewell@yahoo.com)
    Members: Samuel Egber, Tina Stanojevic

History/Archives

The ASGPP fondly remembers those who have made outstanding contributions to our Society, psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. View List

Past ASGPP Presidents:

View the list of past presidents who have given so much to make the society great.  View List

ASGPP Award Recipients

The ASGPP Awards were instituted in 1984 and are given on an annual basis. View a list of all ASGPP Award Recipients.

Contact the American Society of
Group Psychotherapy & Psychodrama

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram