The Tele'Drama® International events are always unique, offering leading methodologies in international sociometry and connection approaches.
 
What to expect this year:

Zerka Moreno taught us about action: "DON'T TELL ME - SHOW ME!"
The entire 5th Tele'Drama conference will be fully experiential! All PowerPoint presentations and handouts will be emailed to participants ahead of time; the valuable time spent together at the conference will be entirely experiential. This includes the 60-minute large groups (referred to as plenaries in the program) and the 120-minute parallel sessions.

All 82+ presenters from 30+ countries will work with one or more groups gathered in person while simultaneously engaging with colleagues who are attending individually and virtually connected. Everyone will be invited to actively participate in creating a large international stage of equitable engagement, inclusivity, and empowerment—a methodology we have coined as Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality.

Translated captions in 40+ languages and channels for simultaneous interpretation in requested languages, along with a wonderfully engaging program and the professionalism and hospitality of the Tele'Drama team, will ensure the opportunity for everyone to be present, engaged, seen, and heard.

TELE’DRAMA is a method, an international institute and a community. The International Tele’Drama Institute (ITI) is offering action and expressive methods training, therapy, counseling, and other interventions using an online video conferencing approach. Thousands of people from over 80 countries from around the World have attended the Tele’Drama training modules, support groups, social events and celebrations.  Tele’Drama is a particularly important part of the future of action methods, connecting people from various cultures, locations and time zones.  Tele’Drama is offering a solution to people in various physical conditions and/or with limited travel capability, creating opportunities for inclusion by increasing equity in receiving mental health, and providing educational services, support groups and social events regardless of one’s circumstances.

Dr. Daniela Simmons, the creator of the Tele'Drama method and the International Institute, began experimenting with various action and experiential methods online in her psychodrama groups and with colleagues and students at universities in the North Texas area. Since 2012, she has been practicing real-time group work on several platforms and coined the term and patented the concept in 2017, choosing Zoom Telecommunication as the platform of choice.

The Tele'Drama International Institute was born to welcome participants from over 80 countries worldwide, with a primary mission to offer opportunities for international networking, training, and education. Tele'Drama International was well-developed and ready to provide a comfortable, safe, and effective alternative for working, learning, meeting, and celebrating during the pandemic.In the following years, the unique International Tele'Drama Virtual Center—a well-equipped platform for online work with multiple virtual rooms, apps, and translation capabilities—became home to training programs, conferences, symposiums, festivals, celebrations, public events, certification programs, and support groups.

Colleagues from around the world, often referred to as the Tele'Drama Dream Team, co-created and hosted an amazing, innovative, well-organized, and welcoming environment for effective and powerful work in the virtual space.

In early 2021, Dr. Simmons announced her latest major innovation: the Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality, a powerful hybrid methodology for co-creating multi-dimensional scenes where groups and individuals connecting from around the world can equally participate in the experiential process, rather than having some be active and others mere observers. 

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

• Discover the latest best practices for hybrid action methods to enrich your professional practice;
• Experience facilitation from renowned practitioners and trainers from around the world;
• Meet and exchange knowledge and ideas with colleagues from various countries and enrich your professional network...

4-day conference (November 7-10, 2024); excellent international presenters; over 60 plenaries & workshops; exciting social events; entertainment; this conference will be truly memorable!

All conference sessions will offer a uniquely designed hybrid experience with multi-dimensional configurations in regards to participants and space. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, well-known in-person and remote presenters and attendees will connect and experience the group process in action together as an important step closer to equal experiences and merging the virtual and physical reality. Various methodologies created within Tele'Drama International, will bring the future of psychotherapy and education into the present time.

INTENDED AUDIENCE
Psychodramatists, sociodramatists, playback or other action methods practitioners or trainers; family therapists, expressive arts therapists, drama, music, dance, poetry, CBT, other therapists; coaches, group facilitators, organization consultants, students pursuing education in the field of mental health, social sciences.

SKILL LEVELS
ALL (Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced)

INCLUSION: 
The 5th International TELE'DRAMA Conference will aim to include EVERYONE: people from around the world, regardless of their language, time zone, economic status or other possible obstacles.
 
Here are some of the approaches for inclusion which we are implementing:

1. Fees according to Country Bands A, B, C, D, determined by the World Bank. 
2. Students and Retirees will be able to pay reduced fees.
3. For those who need additional financial assistance, we will provide a Partial Scholarship Application Form.
4. GROUP RATES: This year, we are introducing group registrations for group either in person or online, with group members compensating the organizer directly. The purpose of this arrangement is a 'shared marketing and benefit' strategy, where we receive help with registrations and those assisting have a financial incentive to do so. For information, please contact zoomroom.international@teledrama.org 
5. Psychodrama Training Hours: Conference participants can acquire psychodrama hours by attending. All sessions in the conference program are either directed by or supervised by ABE TEPs and qualify as psychodrama hours towards certification through the American Board of Examiners (ABE). Upon completing the conference, we will send an evaluation form, and then we will issue a certificate for the number of hours you have attended. Please note that the ABE currently allows 150 hours of the required minimum of 760 hours of training towards the CP journey to be pursued as distance learning. 

TELE’DRAMA CONFERENCE DISCLAIMER TELE’DRAMA CONFERENCE DISCLAIMER

Confidentiality: You are welcome to share as much or as little about yourself while participating in the group. Although this is a training session, you might disclose sensitive or personal information. It’s important that you feel comfortable in this online group environment. All group members are expected to agree to confidentiality, meaning that no participant will share any other group member’s identifying or personal information outside the session. You may share your personal reactions and feelings, but please do not share others' stories or personal details with anyone outside the group.

Cultural Sensitivity: Our groups are international, bringing together participants from diverse cultures and experiences. Participants will speak with various accents. Respect for cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status, is required.

Recording Policy: The large group sessions, announced in the program as ‘Plenary’, as well as the Opening & the Closing (Gala) Events, may be recorded and shared by the organizers when appropriate. All other sessions, including workshops, process groups, and the social hour, are unique to the participants attending and will not be recorded by the organizers or participants.

Photo Policy: Taking pictures is allowed only after the session has ended, and only if all participants are aware and have agreed to have pictures taken and shared on social media or elsewhere.

Display Name: Participants’ legal names should appear on their screen in the Latin alphabet (e.g., avoid using iPhone, company names, numerical names like 367890, or names in non-Latin alphabets).

Environment: Participants are expected to join the session from a quiet and safe place with no other people nearby.

Video Requirement: Cameras must be turned on during the sessions unless there is a technical issue. This policy ensures the safety of all participants and confirms that everyone is fully present during this experiential conference. If you experience a technical issue, please contact us to inform us of the situation.

Unique Access Links: Each participant receives a unique link to join the session. Please do not share your link with anyone else.

Punctuality: Participants are expected to arrive 5 minutes early to ensure a prompt start. Late arrivals may not be allowed to join if the session’s warm-up and sociometric exercises are already in progress. Please plan to stay for the entire session, including the closure.

Zoom Tips: To view all participants at once, switch to Gallery View in the upper-right corner of the Zoom window. If you don’t see the controls, tap your screen to reveal them.

Purpose of Sessions: Tele’Drama sessions are educational in nature and are not intended as therapy. Participation in activities is voluntary. Some discomfort may arise as part of group training, including recalling unpleasant memories or feelings. Please reach out to the director after the session for support or email us at zoomroom.international@teledrama.org.

ADA Compliance: This conference is ADA-compliant. If you require accommodations, please contact us at zoomroom.international@teledrama.org.Conflicts of Interest: There are no known conflicts of interest for this conference.
 
TIME ZONES

All times listed are in:

• Central Time (USA);
• Central European Time (CET); and
• UTC +9 hours (Japan (JST) and South Korea (KST)

If you need assistance in converting the time to your time zone, please feel free to contact our office.
 
REGISTRATION INFORMATION

• Workshops are filled on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited, so please indicate your 1st and 2nd choices.

ABOUT THE METHOD

Tele'Drama International was created by the American psychologist and educator, Dr. Daniela Simmons, PhD. Holding a master’s degree from Sofia University and Doctor in Philosophy Degree from the University of North Texas, Dr. Simmons is an American Board-Certified Trainer, Educator, Practitioner (TEP), Supervisor in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy. Dr. Simmons is the current President of the American Society in Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP), www.asgpp.org.; and the 2022 ASGPP recipient of the Innovator's Award for the creation of Tele'Drama International. Established in 1994, the Innovator's Award is presented to a member of the ASGPP whose work significantly and in new directions extends the applications or methods of psychodrama, sociometry and/or group psychotherapy. Her professional experience, both in Europe and the US, is in educational, research, and consultancy work in the social sciences and mental health.
 
Tele'Drama International (Headquarters in Dallas, TX, United States) has been creating multiple innovative methodologies and initiatives throughout the years, and its team has been successful applying them internationally. Our main purpose from the very beginning has been building up a strong international sociometry and inclusion. As of today, thousands of people from over 83 countries, with diverse backgrounds, have attended the Tele'Drama conferences and symposiums, support groups and educational modules.
In present times Tele'Drama International continues its innovative work, offering multiple configurations for hybrid, Fusional InterReality©, where everyone can equally participate from their own physical location.