Moreno Institute West

Welcome to The Moreno Institute West

The Moreno Institute West, representing the United States, will collaborate internationally to provide training, research, program development and consultation in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy. Additionally, the Moreno Institute West will continue to provide Action Centered methodologies to human service and mental health providers, educators, families, program developers and to others in the human growth and development field.

The Moreno Institute West is committed to the sharing of Psychodramatic and Action Centered methodologies and to the identification and resolution of conflict among individuals, groups and institutions. The Moreno Institute West will also continue its history of contributions to our exciting and diverse communities.

We are extremely proud of having been awarded this responsibility. We accept the charge of developing effective programs and conducting practical research here in San Jose. We look forward to seeing you at the Conference!

Andrew R. Hughey, Ph.D.
Director, Moreno Institute West

Our Mission

The San Jose Moreno Institute promotes the advancement of Psychodrama, Group Psychotherapy and Sociometry. We disseminate Psychodrama, Group Psychotherapy, and Sociometry to the various sectors of the academic and other communities. Our task is to be responsive to contemporary societal concerns, while developing and delivering action oriented strategies to beneficiaries not previously included in the Psychodrama World. We are responsive to the differences in needs, styles and beliefs of diverse communities. We have a commitment to conduct and collaborate in research and other scholarly activities to advance and support these purposes

History of The Institute

Zerka T. Moreno, who carried Psychodrama and introduced it to the whole world after J.L. Moreno’s death in 1974, made a remarkable reflection both about her husband as well as about Psychodrama, in her book with Lief Dag Blomkvist and Thomas Rutzel, “Psychodrama, Surplus Reality, and the Art of Healing” in 2000. Those who were drawn to Psychodrama and Moreno were seeking a revolution, in the sense of spontaneity and the capacity for a new reaction to the situations that occur in their lives. Spontaneity does not have an end, only a beginning.

Spontaneity, being central to the Morenean philosophy, must thus be a guiding principle for all institutions dealing with J.L. Moreno. Following the lead of both J.L. Moreno and Zerka T. Moreno, the Associates For Community Interaction (ACI) applied for the distinction of becoming a new Moreno Institute: The Moreno Institute West.

Dr. Andrew Hughey and the late Dr. Julia Whitney founded ACI in 1990; it became the Moreno Institute West in May, 2003. The following is a summary of accomplishments of the ACI; this work is the foundation of the Moreno Institute West:

	Six of our students have attained the level of Certified Practitioner.
	Darcy Erickson attained the level of Trainer, Educator, and Practitioner (TEP), and was the Trainer of ACI. She is the Director of Training and Instruction for the Moreno Institute West.
	Introduced Psychodrama to the South Bay community.
	Trained two hundred plus teachers in Action Centered Teaching Strategies (ACTS), methods for teaching and learning derived from Psychodrama.
	Trained community groups and schools in conflict resolution, including the development and implementation of peer counseling and mediation in middle schools and high schools throughout various districts.
	Trained parents in action methods for conducting parent meetings and workshops.
	Sponsored six national and international conferences showcasing the skills and expertise of many distinguished Psychodramatists today, including one teleconference linking various Psychodrama training sites around the country.
	Hosted a series of workshops conducted by a variety of Psychodramatists including but not limited to Leon Fine, Marcia Karp, Leif Dag Blomkvist, Alyce Smith-Cooper, Julia Whitney, Rosalie Minkin Belazar, Jonathan Fox, Carl Hollander, Dena Baumgartner, Rebecca Rucker, Louise Lipman, Shelly Haskell, John Mosher, Max Clayton, Shirley Barclay, Elaine Sachnoff, Gong Shu, Mario Cossa, Joni Cohen, Donell Miller, Sandra Garfield, Judith Glass, Ann Hale, Noemi Contreras, Martha Stayton, Peter Kranz, Frank Snyder, and Christine Jacobson.
	Participated with local universities in teaching Psychodrama classes.

Contact Information

Telephone: 1-408-924-3636
FAX: 1-408-578-0604 Attn. Moreno Institute West
Postal address: 5667 Snell Avenue, Ste. 178, San Jose, CA 95123
Electronic mail: General Information: Darcy.Erickson@MorenoInstituteWest.org

General Information: Darcy.Erickson@MorenoInstituteWest.org

Webmaster: schaffer@cruzio.com