Un gruppo di genitori tossicodipendenti in carcere. Ottica psicoanalitica e applicazioni dello psicodramma analitico

A group of drug-addicted parents in prison. Psychoanalytic viewpoint and applications of analytic psychodrama - This article describes therapeutic experience with a short term group, according to the theory of psychoanalytic theory and analytic psychodrama. The work was carried out at the Monitoring Section for Drug Addicts at the Forlì jail. The group consisted of parent-inmates with present or past drug related/addiction problems. In jail, where addicts are usually recognized through various stereotypes (the addict, the criminal, the boss), we wanted to build a space in which they would be able to reveal themselves through different images. The parent was the identity with which they had to introduce themselves to the others, and through which to see themselves, and as a result, the most distinctive characteristics of each inmate emerged. This article highlights the difficulties involved in carrying out psychotherapeutic activity in the prison environment, which is so intrusive and deeply marked by punitive conditions and a form of control. Furthermore, we stress that a large part of this experience in such a context consisted in helping participants to stop complaining and begin reflecting, which is a fundamental step to be taken to be able to work on oneself. The main themes that emerged were: the necessity of authentic communication, generational transmission, the father role and the inmates’ discovery of their own fragility.

Keywords: Small group, homogeneous group, short-term group, analytic psychodrama, inmates, drug-addicted parents.

Patrizia D'Aprile, Licia Versari, Un gruppo di genitori tossicodipendenti in carcere. Ottica psicoanalitica e applicazioni dello psicodramma analitico in "GRUPPI" 3/2009, pp 77-90, DOI: 10.3280/GRU2009-003004