Introduction: During a twelve-week occupational therapy internship, interns were given the opportunity to participate in at least three psychodrama group sessions. The aim was to enhance their self-development and professional skills, while fostering a deeper understanding and reflection on the group therapy process in psychiatry.
Objectives: By attending psychodrama group sessions, the goal was to promote both self-development and professional growth among occupational therapy interns. These activities were integrated into their learning plans to facilitate improvements in self-exploration and occupational therapy techniques.
Methods: Interns in both the day ward and chronic care wards began participating in psychodrama group sessions starting from the fourth week of their internship. Following each session, they engaged in group processing and submitted written reports reflecting on the group process, which served as a record for understanding group dynamics and exploring their inner selves. Supervisors reviewed the reports and provided feedback and encouragement.
Results: After participating in the psychodrama groups, interns showed significant growth in three areas of self-development: increased awareness, transformed thinking, and improved behavior. In terms of professional development, the interns demonstrated greater empathy, formed deeper connections with patients, and improved their group facilitation skills in occupational therapy.