Introduction to the Development
of Psychodrama in China
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Erdong Wang TEP
Vice Chairman of The Division of Group Counseling and Group Therapy, CAMH, Leader of The Psychodrama Group
The Spread & Development of Psychodrama in Mainland China. Graphic by Wang Jing TEP
Psychodrama was first introduced to China by the pioneer of Chinese medical psychology, Ding Zan. In 1948, Ding wrote a series of articles in the newspaper Ta Kung Pao describing his observations of psychodrama lectures by J.L. Moreno and on “witnessing psychodrama healing at a clinic in New York.” In 1993, Dr. Gong Shu, a Chinese American psychodrama trainer, began training professionals in mainland China in the practice of psychodrama. Since then, the practice of psychodrama has grown dramatically with a total of 29 Chinese psychologists now holding Certified Practitioner (CP) certification and nine holding Trainer, Educator, Practitioner (TEP) certification. Several other psychologists are working toward their certifications. A majority of these CP and TEPs are Dr. Gong’s students with the remaining few trained by her students. Special thanks go to the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy for their support in the certification process, especially Dr. Dale Buchanan and all the teachers who traveled to China to support teaching and testing. For her efforts, we truly believe Dr. Gong Shu is the Mother of modern Chinese Psychodrama. On March 20, 2014, the Chinese Mental Health Association (CMHA) established a Psychodrama Section dedicated to the study and development of psychodrama in China. The founder and current director is professor Sang Zhiqin from Nanjing University. The group has hosted four academic conferences since its inception. In 2017, the Chinese Mental Health Association awarded Dr. Gong the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to Chinese Psychodrama
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of psychodrama, it feels particularly meaningful to reflect on the development of psychodrama in China. Psychodrama was introduced into China as early as 1948, but it didn’t take root until the 1990’s. Today, Psychodrama is well on its way to becoming an established discipline, with its own community of trainers and practitioners.
Ding Zan: Founder of Chinese medical psychology
Dr. Gong Shu: Mother of modern Chinese psychodrama
Today, psychodrama professionals are spread across 28 provinces and 70 cities across China. Psychodrama is being applied every day in a variety of mental health applications including:
• Intervention and clinical research in hospitals and medical facilities, where several research papers are
being published.
• Promotion of mental health in the general population through the organization of psychodrama workshops
• Media collaboration to offer education on the power of psychodrama in psychological health. Since 2014,
the Psychodrama Section of the Chinese Mental Health Association has partnered with China Central
Television Channel 12 to develop “Psychological Time”, a column to promote the power of psychodrama in psychological health.
• Teaching programs in major colleges and universities; Peking University, Nanjing University, Soochow
University, Chongqing Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Suzhou Health Vocational, and
Technical College along with other colleges and universities have offered psychodrama related courses.
• Training in vocational programs; the theory and technology of psychodrama are applied in various training
programs in schools, hospitals, enterprises, prisons, drug rehabilitation centers, and military facilities.
• There are many innovations in the application of psychodrama in China. After psychodrama was introduced
to China, the Chinese people’s spontaneity and creativity played a role, creating Campus Psychodrama,
which soon, swept through the China’s universities, middle schools, and primary schools. Campus
Psychodrama was a program developed to illustrate common psychological difficulties encountered by
students in schools. This conflict resolution process now plays a role in mental health education.
CCTV News screenshot discussing psychodrama in psychological health in China.
Another innovation in the application of psychodrama is the combination with artificial intelligence technology. The AI Psychological Collaborative Innovation Center of Soochow University used the theoretical technology of psychodrama as an intervention strategy to train a robot "Xiaoxin" that can do one-to-one interventions.
AI has begun to be applied in schools and communities and in alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers.
After the establishment of this type of psychodrama group, in order to avoid confusion with the psychodrama of counseling and therapy, Campus Psychodrama was standardized as Scene Psychodrama. Starting with CCTV in 2015, the "Psychological Time" column collaborated to create a brand-new form of "Film and Television Psychodrama". The creative process of "Film and Television Psychodrama" focuses on the psychological distress with universal characteristics encountered by various groups in society, and focuses on the process of how to change, with the hope that the ‘mirror’ technology of drama can touch and help audiences who are similarly troubled. "Film and Television Psychodrama" has been produced and has broadcast 74 episodes. Since the first episode was produced and broadcast, it was well received by the audience and has played a very good role.
Artificial Intelligence: Xiaoxin
Short video showing AI robot Xiaoxin doing one-to-one psychodrama with a loose translation of dialogue.
Xiaoxin: Psychodrama Robot
Xiaoxin in Action
Finally, I want to introduce the application of psychodrama in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the Chinese Psychodrama Group drafted and released the "Network Psychodrama Group Work Guide", which provided online working models for psychodrama training. With the joint efforts of members of the Psychodrama Section and other CPs and TEPs, psychodrama has played an active role during the Pandemic. Their activities include:
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Support of the psychological assistance hotline platform of Central China Normal University of the Ministry of Education and group intervention
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Publication of "36 Tips on Epidemic Prevention Psychology"; creation of animated video tutorials; and publication of the twelve volume books; "School Teachers, Students and Family Epidemic Prevention Psychological Behavior Instructor".
Twelve volume "School Teachers, Students and Family Epidemic Prevention Psychological Behavior Instructor" books
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Volume for Parents of Special Needs Students
Volume for Junior High School Students
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Development of online lectures for public welfare psychology which played to an audience of over 17,000 people.
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Initiation of the Me and Me City Lighthouse a psychological charity project which includes a glass house that is lit up 24 hours a day. This project provides psychological support and services to cities in the epidemic, linking 12 cities where more than 10,000 people participate.
I believe that psychodrama will continue to develop rapidly, extensively, and creatively in China, helping more and more people to understand, remove psychological troubles, and receive happiness! Thank you for your support!
Erdong Wang TEP
Vice Chairman of The Division of Group Counseling and Group Therapy, CAMH, Leader of The Psychodrama Group
