Self improvement industry booms to $1 billion in Australia
THE self improvement industry has boomed to being worth $1 billion in Australia, according to the latest Marketdata study, yet so much training and self-development still remains shallow and simplistic.
As people yearn to discover their full human potential, motivational 'self-improvement' programs, products or services that seek to improve us physically, mentally, financially or spiritually are in hot demand.
Many programs preach: "Learn this and you will be able to do that," but it's not that simple, according to Peter Howie, director of the Brisbane training organisation Moreno.
Moreno runs training programs highlighting understanding peopleusing creative technologies involving groups and other action processes.
"Its methods are not new fangled methods but have been developed and used for more than 70 years," Mr Howie said.
Moreno offers professional development courses in leadership and management as well as group training programs, focused on increasing performance through a better understanding of people.
"Real life is complex and unpredictable. Knowing what to do is very different from being able to do it," Mr Howie said.
"Our creative technologies, developed over many years, work for people of all ages, cultures and life experiences. They strengthen your sense of self, relationships with others and effectiveness in groups - whether family, community or organisational.
"These methods are profound ways to look at life in all its complexity and chaos. Once you get below the surface, you can learn things about yourself and others and the roles we play. While profound it is all done in a teachable, straightforward manner.
"And you can learn this for yourself rather than having someone tell you all about it. This will profoundly help you make a real difference in your life and the lives of people around you."
Moreno's leadership training programs take a unique look at leadership, focusing on the relationships that the leader must create, engage in and manage.
For people who work with people, such as managers, leaders and community developers, psychotherapists, psychologists, nurses and social workers, its programs cover the intricacies of group work, action methods and creative therapeutic tools. These methods are based on psychodrama - a profound methodology.
"Understanding people is key whether you are leading people, directing people, collaborating with people, motivating people, co-ordinating people or working with people towards a therapeutic end," Mr Howie said.
"Training with Moreno is focused on acquiring the skills and capabilities necessary to understand people, in all their uniqueness."
Upcoming events and workshops include a free Wine and Cheese Evening on February 19 at Macquarie House, 45 Clarence Street, Coorparoo, from 5.30-7.30pm; Understanding People - A Short Course in Psychodrama on February 20-21 and Leadership – It's about people! A Free Intro Class: on March 25, 2010, from 6.30-9pm.
For more details, call (07) 3847 3139, 0430 464 833, email gavin@moreno.com.au or visit www.moreno.com.au
SIDEBAR - History of psychodrama
Psychodrama is based on the philosophy and methods conceived of by psychiatrist Dr Jacob Moreno (1889-1974). It grew out of his experiments in Vienna in the 1920's with the theatre of spontaneity, a form of improvisational theatre and working with disenfranchised people.
Moving to the USA in 1925, he continued to combine this with his interest in social science, exploring the possibilities of treating clients using group psychotherapy. This work has been further refined by many practitioners and training institutes around the world including in Australia, the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, US, South America, Japan and New Zealand.
Though somewhat younger, Moreno was a contemporary of Sigmund Freud, and, like Freud, he developed techniques to get below the surface of ordinary life to help people heal. Yet where Freud used the couch, Moreno used the stage and instead of sitting passively, people became active participants on the stage of their own life.
Moreno developed several techniques related to psychodrama, including sociodrama, sociometry, role theory and group psychotherapy which expanded the application of his methods into a wider range of community and cultural groups. All of these methods have been applied to the Moreno programs.
The methods developed by Moreno are all being actively used and taught throughout the world in the US, South America, Canada, European Union, Russia, Turkey, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, China and Japan.
In Australia, the Australian and New Zealand Psychodrama Association Incis the professional body which oversights and manages the professional training and development of people studying the methods of JL Moreno.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT ONLY: To do an interview with Peter Howie or for more details, contact Aldwyn Altuney at AA Xposé Media on (07) 5571 0233, 0409 895 055 or email: aldwyn@aaxpose.com
