Download TSM AL Practium Checklist - Therapeutic Spiral International

TRAUMA TEAM ROLES AND CHECKLIST
THE ASSISTANT LEADER (AL)
OVERVIEW
The development of the Assistant Leader role is unique to the Therapeutic Spiral Model and has always been at
the center of the development of TSM. The AL is the team member who maintains a mental checklist of the four
functions of the Director, and who tends to the underserved categories. S/he performs a constant “dance” with
the Team Leader to keep the group’s reality connected to the various dramas’ reality. S/he directs and coaches
auxiliaries in the deepest fulfillment of their roles. Whatever the TL is not attending to in the moment, the AL is.
Basically, the AL is the manager behind-the-scenes—of the workshop, of the dramas.
ASSISTANT LEADER REQUIREMENTS
After successfully completing all the requirements of the Trained Auxiliary Ego role (TAE), trainees may undertake
this next level of accreditation. Trainees must be Certified Practitioners of Psychodrama (or the equivalent
credential within their country of residence), or must be in a psychodrama training program in which their basic
psychodrama skills are being developed.
Training and experience are generally gained in the 2nd year of participation in the Core Training Series during
which trainees are encouraged to practice the new AL role under “stop action” supervision. At this level, trainees
must begin to direct full protagonist “trauma dramas” in addition to the primary focus of working with projective
identifications, intense feelings, and personal trauma material, which may surface in group and team members.
TRAINING: A minimum of 60 additional hours of training and 20 hours of personal growth experience are required
as a participant in TSM Training and Personal Growth Workshops. In consultation with their Primary Trainer,
trainees may develop a training plan that includes psychodrama training outside of TSM workshops to meet the
training requirement. The 20 hours of personal growth must still, however, be within TSM. Participation in an
Advanced Core Training Series for at least one year is strongly encouraged.
PRACTICUM: The trainee must have completed Trained Auxiliary Ego (TAE) requirements. In addition to the training
requirement, the trainee must serve as AL in a minimum of six weekend workshops as described below:
 Warm-up: A minimum of one Personal Growth Workshop serving as either Backup AL or AL with an
accredited AL as coach. No directing is required. The TL either then recommends advancement into the
“Action” series or recommends an additional workshop with coaching. Trainee must receive a
recommendation for advancement from an accredited TL or Trainer prior to moving into the “Action”
phase of the practicum experience.
 Action: A minimum of 3 workshops – AT LEAST TWO OF WHICH MUST BE PERSONAL GROWTH
WORKSHOPS – in the role of AL working with an accredited TL or Trainer present and including directing
at least one drama per weekend. Trainee must then be recommended to move into the “Assessment”
phase by their Primary Trainer.
 Assessment: Trainee successfully serves as AL with an accredited TL for a minimum of two “assessment”
workshops. Successful evaluation of required skills must be made by at least 2 TLs, at least one of whom is
a Trainer in the Therapeutic Spiral Model.
SKILLS ASSESSMENT AND GRANTING OF ACCREDITATION: To become certified as AL, trainees must fulfill certain team
functions and demonstrate a range of skills as enumerated in the skills competencies checklist below.
Demonstration of required skills is documented on the skills checklist by the Team Leader of each practicum and
assessment attended. When the minimum number of training hours and practica/assessments are completed
and all required skills demonstrated, accreditation is recommended by the Primary Trainer and approved by the
Director of Training.
FEES: Trainees pay ½ tuition as a supervision fee plus all travel and accommodation expenses for the “back
up/coached” session(s) and their 1st practicum. For subsequent practica there is no supervision fee, but trainees
pay all their own expenses. Trainees continue to pay TSI for supervision with their primary trainer as negotiated.
SUPERVISION: A minimum of 16 hours of individual supervision with the Primary Trainer and/or group supervision
of team participation as Assistant Leader is required. Supervision will include exploration of counter-transference
and role-vulnerability issues with team and group members, and experience with personal issues (“doodahs”)
management in action. The AL Documentation record provides a checklist for documenting completed
requirements. Should there be any need to change the trainee’s Primary Trainer, it may be done before the
trainee begins this next level of accreditation.
ASSISTANT LEADER IN ACTION
The AL must have good communication beforehand with each team member and know their vulnerabilities,
strengths, etc. The AL begins the team warm-up process via email, encouraging the other team members to
explore and share their strengths and other Prescriptive Roles that they bring to this particular workshop—as well
as, in a second round, some of their challenges, potential problems with personal issues (“doodahs”), and
Trauma-based Roles they may be carrying. During this and the in-person team warm-up the day the workshop
starts, the AL is aware of the individual team member needs and sociometric connections. In addition, the AL is
cognizant that this warm-up is often a parallel process to what the participants may bring into the weekend.
The AL is constantly aware of/doubles the Team Leader’s soliloquy, i.e., s/he must be in tune with the Director’s
clinical perspective of a particular drama. Overall, the AL provides a container for the TL so that the dramas and
the workshop can be clinically successful. In holding the container during the dramas and in the team meetings,
s/he notices whatever is needed and assigns someone to fill the role or do the job. Since the AL has mastered the
TAE role functions, s/he is aware of the pitfalls and challenges, and is able to auxiliarize the TAEs in that role.
A common pitfall or problem for ALs is to lose their sense of an overview and of being a manager. They may get
pulled into the action of the drama or a particular PI situation or abreaction. This is not wrong, but they should try
to integrate everything with the Director as soon as possible and/or appoint a TAE to this role and location and
move back into their overview stance.
ALs are not co-Directors but are “practically-minded magicians” who create the space for the Directors to do their
best work. ALs know how to breathe, take a step back, and hold the entire group. They pay attention to their
own process and notice what is being triggered in particular roles or dramas. They are aware of the parallel
process between their experience of the role(s) they are supporting and the experience of the protagonist and
TAEs in role. This clinical information is shared with the Director of the drama.
The AL provides role relief for the Team Leader and directs parts of the workshop including a trauma drama.
Usually the AL will direct part of the Friday evening structure, develop the art project for a personal growth
weekend, direct a drama or vignettes during the Saturday sessions, and share or fully take on the directing of the
final Sunday closing session. This is part of their development toward the role of Team Leader and is planned
through consultation with the TL as part of the workshop planning.
ALs are continually aware of the basic principles of the TSM, the contract of the drama, the ego strength of the
protagonist, the needs of the group, and their own process. They are given feedback on their skills development
from the Team Leader of each team on which they serve, in the form of a “skills checklist.”
FUNCTIONS OF THE TSM ASSISTANT LEADER ROLE

Facilitate the team warm-up prior to the workshop, including through email.

Maintain consistent communication with the TL.

Facilitate at least one of the Team warm-up and/or processing sessions.

Facilitate at least one of the group warm-up sessions at the workshop.

Direct least 3 dramas during course of training, one of which must be either “accurate labeling,”
“uncovering core trauma,” or “conscious re-experiencing with developmental repair.” Must have served
as AL for those types of dramas they have not directed during the workshop.
ASSISTANT LEADER’S CLINICAL AWARENESS & KNOWLEDGE OF TSM INCLUDES:

Trauma Survivor’s Intrapsychic Role Atom (TSIRA)

Direction of Dramas with appropriate contracting

Four Roles of the Director and providing for them via TAEs.

Knowing when to assign the role(s) of Containing Double, Body Double, and/or Manager of Defenses for
both protagonist and/or group members as needed.

Feeding information about a particular role to the Team Leader, directly or through coaching a role.

Projective Identification and how/when to bring it into the drama.

Anticipating physical needs of the action and seeing that they are provided for.

Being cognizant of potential roles required by the action.

Supporting auxiliaries and group members in role.

Supporting containment or expansion of affect and states of awareness as needed.

Tending to physical safety and space considerations during action and throughout the workshop or
training.

Moving the group into appropriate “clusters” as needed.

Personal issue (“doodah”) management and how to facilitate.