Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychodrama In India

The Growth of Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychodrama in India

In modern mental health, it is increasingly common to see art, music, dance, and drama integrated into therapy and learning spaces. Today, Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychodrama are being applied across a vast range of settings—including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, corporate environments, and private practices—to foster emotional healing and personal growth.

Both modalities honor the wisdom of the body and the power of the imagination. By awakening spontaneity and creativity, these methods help individuals rediscover their wholeness. Studying these fields is more than just learning a method; it is a transformative journey for both the practitioner and the client.

 

Professional Training at East West Center for Counselling

At the East West Center for Counselling, we have spent 15 years providing structured Expressive Arts Therapy programmes in India. We support mental health professionals in both clinical and non-clinical settings, offering tools that go beyond traditional talk therapy.

Our center was founded by Dr. Magdalene Jeyarathnam, a renowned counselor, trainer, and supervisor with over 30 years of experience. Her vision has shaped our curriculum into one of the most respected training grounds for creative clinicians in the region.

Action-Based Learning: The Indian Institute of Psychodrama

Complementing this work is the Indian Institute of Psychodrama (IIP). As a pioneer in the field, IIP focuses on Psychodrama training—an action-based method where stories, roles, and enactments become powerful tools for insight and change.

Through our collaboration, we offer:

• Practical & Accessible Learning: Dynamic workshops and diploma programmes.
• Global Perspectives: Occasional interactions with international psychodrama trainers to keep our learning evolving.
• Structured Certification: Ideal for counselors, educators, social workers, and healthcare practitioners.

 

The Future of Creative Arts Therapy in India

The field of Creative Arts Therapy is growing steadily across the country. More professionals are exploring how creative methods can enhance their work, from small-scale community workshops to full the full Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy programmes.

At the East West Center for Counselling and the Indian Institute of Psychodrama, we remain committed to making creative transformation accessible and meaningful. Each workshop and collaboration is a step forward in bringing fresh, action-oriented approaches to mental health and community practice in India.

Dr. Herb Propper Memorial Psychodrama Training Workshops by Dr Magdalene Jeyarathnam

Join the Dr. Herb Propper Memorial Workshops Facilitated by Dr. Magdalene Jeyarathnam 

The Dr. Herb Propper Memorial Workshops are a premier series of experiential online workshops rooted in the core methods of classical psychodrama. Facilitated by Dr. Magdalene Jeyarathnam, a leading expert in the field, this series invites participants to engage deeply with foundational psychodrama training tools that support self-awareness, relational understanding, and creative movement toward change.Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a newcomer to action methods in therapy, each workshop is designed to awaken curiosity and offer deep experiential learning rather than theory alone. 

Why Join This Psychodrama Training Series? 

 These workshops are offered in remembrance of Dr. Herb Propper, a senior psychodramatist and mentor whose contribution to psychodrama training in India was foundational. As the first Primary Trainer at the Indian Institute of Psychodrama, Dr. Herb pioneered consistent, structured psychodrama education in the country.Today, his legacy continues through the work of Dr. Magdalene Jeyarathnam. These memorial sessions create a vital space for psychodrama trainees in India and practitioners across the helping professions to integrate relational wisdom and professional growth. 

Workshop Series & Descriptions 

Mode: Online (Zoom) | Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (IST) 

Workshop 1: Sociometry & Group Dynamics – Jan 14, 2026 

Sociometry brings to light the invisible relational patterns in every group. This session explores how connections are formed and how relationships influence our sense of self. It is an essential workshop for those interested in group dynamics and relational presence. 

Workshop 2: Role Inventory Toolkit – Feb 6, 2026 

This workshop invites participants to examine the roles they occupy in personal and professional contexts. Utilizing Dr. Herb’s Role Inventory Toolkit, we explore spontaneity and choice, opening space for professional growth and renewed vitality. 

Workshop 3: Social Atom & Relational Mapping – Feb 13, 2026 

The Social Atom is a powerful tool for mapping meaningful connections, emotional distances, and conflicts. Participants gain emotional insight into how relationships shape their current patterns, offering a path for the gentle reorganization of their relational universe. 

Workshop 4: Future Projection & Action Methods – Feb 20, 2026 

Future Projection allows participants to explore possible futures through action methods. By stepping into imagined roles, participants encounter the choices that influence their present. This workshop supports clarity and readiness for change, offering a chance to rehearse new ways of being.

When Anxiety grips the Body

When Anxiety grips the Body Anxiety is a heavy burden which can be felt in the body — tight shoulders, restless legs, shallow breaths, profuse sweating; in the way we move, in the silence we hold, in the gestures we repeat without realising. Our experiences are stored not just in memory but in muscle, posture, and energy. If anxiety is in your body, will working only with our thoughts be enough? Cognitive therapies offers powerful tools to notice and challenge unhelpful thinking. For many, it brings clarity and structure, and that can feel like safety. But thoughts are just one layer of anxiety Rationale alone can’t always touch what the body remembers. This is where Expressive arts therapy and psychodrama opens a new door. Through role play, embodied storytelling, and other action methods, it gives space for anxiety to be expressed and transformed. Instead of pushing it down or trying to control it, we can explore it, give it form, and let it move. Because healing isn’t just about thinking differently. It’s about experiencing yourself differently.

Why Creativity is needed in Therapy

When was the last time you doodled absent-mindedly? Or found yourself humming a tune you didn’t even realize was stuck in your head? Or played with your childhood toys (if you still have them safely) and got lost in it? These little moments remind us that creativity is part of being human. And for many people, creativity becomes the bridge when words fall short. That’s what expressive arts therapy and psychodrama offer: ways to move, draw, sing, write, or role-play emotions that feel too heavy to name. No art degree needed just a willingness to let expression take shape. Especially after the pandemic, when silence and isolation weighed on so many, creative therapies have shown how important it is to go beyond words. Clients discover not just what they think, but what they feel. And here’s the beautiful part: The drawing doesn’t have to look pretty. The movement doesn’t need to be graceful. The role play doesn’t need to be polished. The value lies in the process, in giving form to something that’s been sitting quietly inside for too long. In India, there are only a handful of places offering structured training in these approaches. At East West Center for Counselling and the Indian Institute of Psychodrama, we’re are the first ones to introduce these training in India and committed in making this learning accessible for professionals who want to grow their toolkit. Because sometimes, therapy doesn’t look like talking. Sometimes, it looks like movement, colours, or stepping into someone else’s shoes and finding yourself in the process. 👉 Our Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy is open for admissions.Contact 9884700136 for more details

The Future of Mental Health Training : Why Integration Matters?

The past few years have changed the way we think about wellbeing. Burnout is being discussed in boardrooms. Schools are openly talking about children’s anxiety and academic pressure. Even workplaces are setting up mental health days. And here’s the truth: one approach alone doesn’t cut it anymore. A teenager struggling with anxiety may need talk therapy and movement. An employee burnt out by deadlines might open up through art before words. A survivor of trauma may find healing in role play before reflection. This is why integrative training matters. It prepares therapists to meet clients where they are, not where a single method stops. At East West Center for Counselling, our programs binds together counselling skills, expressive art therapies and psychodrama. What makes this more urgent now is that people’s challenges are not neatly divided. A child brings school anxiety, but it’s connected to family patterns. An employee struggles with stress, but it’s tied to identity, culture, and unspoken expectations. Therapists of tomorrow (YOU) need to be ready for this complexity. The future therapist should not be a specialist in just one box. But fluent in multiple ways of listening, seeing, and responding. That’s the direction mental health needs to take and we’re excited to be part of it. Admissions for our diploma courses in Expressive arts therapy and Psychodrama are now open.

Psychodrama is Action

Psychodrama is Action – And Actions speak louder than words. Some experiences sit in your chest like a knot, a heavy burden. You talk about them, explain them, analyse them — and yet, nothing seems to shift. Psychodrama feels like a breath of fresh air. Instead of only talking, you step into the scene. You replay it. You swap roles. You watch your scene unfold from a new angle. It’s not about acting — it’s about finally seeing what’s been hidden, a new perspective. In today’s world of endless Zoom calls and endless scrolling, we forget that healing happens by standing up, moving around, and letting our body speak. The body carries stories, words aren’t enough. And here’s what comes as a surprise: the room itself changes. When someone takes on the role of a parent, a colleague, or even their younger self, you can feel the energy shift. It’s almost like the air gets heavier with truth and lighter with possibility. At the Indian Institute of Psychodrama, Participants often leave saying: “I didn’t know I could see my life this way.” Psychodrama is the drama of your soul, It’s an experience that helps us meet ourselves with more compassion.

July at the Indian Institute of Psychodrama

July was nothing short of electric at the Indian Institute of Psychodrama. We promised to keep you busy—and inspired—and that is exactly what happened. With three dynamic workshops already completed and one more powerful experience just around the corner, this month has truly been a celebration of growth, connection, and creative exploration.

1. Online Psychodrama Training: A Powerful Start

Our ongoing Online Psychodrama Training, held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, continued into July with a surge of fresh energy and enthusiasm. Participants from across the country—and even beyond—gathered virtually to step into the method of action and healing. From understanding roles and role reversal to experiencing sociometry and the power of the auxiliary ego, this was not just training—it was a new form of experiential learning that awakened insight, creativity, and connection. The energy, commitment, and curiosity in the virtual room were contagious. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are excited to welcome more cohorts in the coming months.

2. Art Therapy Workshop with Dr. Charitra Ballal: Colour, Creativity, and Connection

From July 14 to 18, the walls of our training space came alive with colour, movement, and imagination. Dr. Charitra Ballal’s Art Therapy Workshop was a feast for the senses—and the soul. Participants explored how art can bypass the analytical mind and give shape to emotions that often defy words. Guided exercises using image-making, colour stories, and shared reflections created a safe and vibrant space where participants discovered new aspects of their personality and journeyed together through a gallery of expressive experiences. Therapists, educators, and artists alike left with their inner creative fires reignited and their toolkits enriched.

3. Exploring Dreams through Psychodrama: Where the Unconscious Speaks

Dreams became doorways during this immersive 3-day workshop held from July 18 to 20. Led by Magdalene Jeyarathnam, this workshop helped participants bring their symbolic dream world to life through action methods. It was raw, powerful, and deeply transformative. Participants worked with dreams that had been lingering for years—finally giving them voice and resolution. The dreamwork was intimate, collective, and magical. If you ever wondered what your dreams are trying to tell you, try this workshop. Sign in when this workshop is announced.

4. Healing Transgenerational Trauma through Psychodrama

As July came to a close, we concluded one of our most powerful workshops of the season — Healing Transgenerational Trauma through Psychodrama — held on July 26 and 27.

This deeply immersive experience brought together participants ready to explore the invisible threads passed down through generations — inherited wounds, untold family narratives, and ancestral patterns that continue to echo in the present. Through the method of psychodrama, participants didn’t just observe these legacies; they stepped into them, gave them voice, and began the process of transformation in action.Time and again, this workshop proves to be one of our most sought-after spaces for those curious about the origins of emotional patterns and ready to confront the stories that shaped them. The energy in the room, the courage in the enactments, and the collective strength of the group left a lasting impact on everyone present.

Step Into What Comes Next

What sets these workshops apart is the heart behind them. Each facilitator brings in decades of experience, a deep understanding of therapeutic processes, and a creative, human touch. These are not just workshops—they are portals into personal evolution.

If you missed any of these experiences, do not worry. There is more coming. A lot more. Looking ahead, we now turn our focus to an equally significant experience — our upcoming September workshop that will explore colonial histories, cultural identity, and inherited resilience. Participants will be invited to examine the psychological impact of colonisation and the lasting imprints it leaves on individuals and communities. Through psychodramatic group processes, this workshop offers a space to not just reflect on history, but to begin the work of healing it. Stay tuned for our upcoming calendar and announcements. Whether you are a therapist, coach, educator, or someone seeking personal transformation, the Indian Institute of Psychodrama is a space where creative methods meet deep reflection—and new possibilities begin.

 

Let your curiosity lead. Let your story unfold. And let us walk with you.

📩 To stay updated or enquire about upcoming workshops, visit www.centerforcounselling.org
📱 WhatsApp/Call: +91 98847 00135 / +91 98847 00104
📧 Email: indianinstituteofpsychodrama@gmail.com