Psychodrama, Addiction, and Defenses: From Protection to Connection
Presented by Dr. Scott Giacomucci, DSW, LCSW, BCD, CGP, FAAETS, TEP
Dates: Friday, September 18, 2026 – Sunday, September 20, 2026 8:30AM – 5:30PM (Sunday until 3:30PM)– 21 CE Hours
Cost: $675 Professionals | $465 students (*write to us if cost is your only barrier)
Friday Only Option (7 CEs) – Cost: $250 Professionals | $165 Students
Location: Phoenix Center – 524 N. Providence Road Media, PA 19063
21 CE Hours for NBCC, and PA social workers, counselors, MFTs, & Psychologists | 21 training hours provided towards experiential and psychodrama certifications.
(This workshop is included in the 2026 Trauma-Informed Psychodrama Training Program.)
About the Workshop
This experiential training explores the intersection of addiction, defenses, and psychodrama. Addiction is often rooted in pain, trauma, and shame and protected by layers of psychological defenses. These defense mechanisms and protector parts help with survival, safety, and comfort, but may block insight, connection, or change. This workshop offers a trauma-informed and strengths-based framework for working with defenses in psychodrama. Participants will learn how to work in action with various types of defenses to promote recovery from trauma, addiction, and mental health.
Action methods such as doubling, role reversal, and concretization will be demonstrated as tools to explore one’s relationship to defenses while preserving client safety and autonomy. Theoretical concepts from Moreno, psychodynamic theory, and trauma-informed care will be integrated into the teaching and practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify multiple psychodramatic interventions for working with defenses
- Describe at least two sociometric exercises for exploring defenses in a group
- Explain the value of psychodrama for addiction treatment and recovery
By purchasing tickets and registering for this event, you confirm that you agree with the Phoenix Center’s Informed Consent for Experiential Training Workshops and our workshop, cancellation, and refund policies.
To Register for this Workshop
Please complete Steps 1 and 2. Registration is not confirmed until payment is received.
Step 1: Pay for the event by using our Paypal Payment System (you can enter a credit card as a payment option).
Step 2: Fill out the registration form using the same email you used for Paypal.
Step 3: You will hear from us with a confirmation email (the same one you used for PayPal and registration) indicating your registration and information about the event in a few days. All materials will be directed to the same email address including your certificate.
Important Information
*Please note that this is workshop will include both didactic and experiential learning components. The experiential learning structures include demonstrations of psychodrama and other experiential processes which often include (optional) personal disclosures from participants. While personal growth is often a byproduct of experiential learning in psychodrama, the primary purpose of this workshop is training. If you are seeking a workshop for personal growth or seeking a professional training event that is entirely didactic (lecture/powerpoint), this is probably not the best workshop for you.
For folks traveling from out of town, there is a new beautiful bed and breakfast just 1 block from the Phoenix Center that we recommend. It is within walking distance of downtown Media and plenty of shops/restaurants – https://www.gifford-risleyhouse.com. Mention Phoenix Center for a reduced rate.
No Conflicts of Interest or outside commercial support have been declared by the presenter or others involved in the program.
This workshop is designed primarily for psychologists, social workers, counselors, and therapists but other professionals may also find it helpful. The instruction designed at the intermediate level (though many new and advanced professionals may also find it helpful).
For the workshop schedule or other details or questions about the workshop, please contact us at Support@PhoenixTraumaCenter.com.
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Continuing Education (CE) Approval Statements relevant to this workshop:
- Continuing Education (CE) Approval Statements relevant to this workshop:
- Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy, LLC (Lic. #004115) has been approved as a pre-approved provider of professional continuing education for social workers (Section 47.36), Marriage and Family Therapist (Section 48.36) and Professional Counselors (Section 49.36) by the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
- Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychologists (Lic. # PSY000215) to offer continuing education for psychologists.
- Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7013. Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy, LLC maintains responsibility for the program.
