Social Therapy and Social Therapeutics
Creating Performative Spaces where Life can Flourish
The Power of Play
"In this talk, Dr. Holzman documents the importance of play in our growth and development throughout our entire lives. Babies and toddlers play their way to growth. They learn how to talk, draw, dance, even think, through playing at what they're not yet—performing it before they know it. Lucky for us non-babies, the mystery of exactly why and how play is developmental has been revealed and put to use with adults! Across the globe, from board rooms to therapy rooms, from hospital wards to refugee camps, "play revolutionaries" are helping people and communities embrace play as a way to keep developing."
Why Social Therapy?
"Social therapy is a non-diagnostic and non-problem-oriented therapy. As proponents and practitioners of non-medical model understandings and practices, social therapists take an approach more cultural than scientific, more philosophical than psychological, and more dialectical than dynamic. With their clients, they engage the emotional impact of living in a culture in which what we are socialized to see are problems and solutions, in which individual and group are understood to be in opposition, and in which who you “are” must be known and then commodified while who you are 'becoming' is rarely considered. This happens through organizing heterogeneous groups of people to take responsibility for the social-emotional development of the group and its members. With the support of the social therapist, their task in therapy is to create an environment in which everyone can get help. People discover that while we all experience pain as individuals, we “get better”—that is, we grow and develop emotionally—with others."
- from East Side Institute. Click here.
- from East Side Institute. Click here.
Why Social Therapeutics?
Social therapeutics offers an alternative to medicalized psychology, emphasizing human development through community and creativity rather than diagnosis and prescription. This approach views people not as fixed identities or isolated individuals but as culture creators and active performers of their lives. Rooted in the non-diagnostic social therapy developed by Fred Newman in the 1970s, social therapeutics has expanded beyond psychotherapy to fields like education, healthcare, community organizing, and the arts.
Key Aspects:
- People as Social Beings: Humans are inherently social and always evolving, not isolated or predictable subjects of traditional psychology.
- People as Performers: Life is viewed as a performance, where groups co-create both scripted and improvised scenes through play and collaboration.
- People as Improvisers: Like professional improvisers, people create possibilities by responding to and building on each other’s actions, rather than judging or negating them.
- People as Revolutionaries: Drawing from Marx and Vygotsky, social therapeutics sees people as both shaped by circumstances and capable of transforming them through collective creativity, generating new realities and personal growth.
Social therapeutics aims to foster personal and community transformation by tapping into human capacities for performance, improvisation, and collaboration, offering new opportunities for growth, connection, and possibility.
* excerpted and paraphrased from the East Side Institute
The Creative, Relational Self
In her work with the East Side Institute, based in NYC but international in scope, Lois Holzman explores the transformative potential of social therapy, a practice she developed alongside Fred Newman. Holzman is a cofounder with Fred Newman of the East Side Institute for Group and Short Term Psychotherapy and the Institute’s current director. She is a leading proponent of cultural approaches to learning, development and psychotherapy. Among these approaches are what she and others call social therapy or social therapeutics.
Their approach challenges the individualistic focus of traditional psychology by emphasizing the importance of group activities in emotional and social development. In a world where the self is often commodified, isolated, and over-psychologized, Holzman’s methodology offers a radical alternative: deconstructing the self while preserving individuality, allowing participants to engage more fully with the world.
Social therapy encourages individuals to shift from an introspective, self-focused mindset to collaborative interaction within group settings. Participants gain a sense of aliveness through shared performances and the collective creation of new emotional environments. Holzman emphasizes that personal growth and collective well-being are interconnected, rejecting the notion that individuality must be sacrificed for the group. Instead, each person’s uniqueness flourishes through relationships with others, striking a balance between individual expression and collective development.
In what follows, I offer a process-oriented appreciation of Holzman’s idea and contribute a new concept to the conversation, which I call incidental social therapy.
The Creative, Relational Self
Among process thinkers (and here I include myself) we often emphasize that the human self is both creative and relational. Creativity here means that our “selves” unfold moment by moment, like improvised responses to past experiences, interactions with others, the natural world, and the traditions we encounter. Many of these responses occur unconsciously, yet they are genuinely free—not entirely determined by the past. Each moment offers the possibility of novelty.
At the same time, the self is profoundly relational. Who we are emerges within relationships—with others, with history, with social conditions, and with the physical realities of our bodies. In this sense, we are always in community—whether healthy or unhealthy, healing or harmful, just or unjust. We exist as part of ensembles: families, friendships, workplaces, communities, and ecosystems. Alongside these others, we continuously “perform” our selves, just as they perform themselves for us. Our actions, choices, and ways of presenting ourselves are shaped by these relationships—and in turn, these relationships shape who we become.
Even within this relational framework, each self remains unique, shaped by particular experiences that cannot be duplicated by others. Moreover, we are never static beings; we are selves-in-process, evolving moment by moment. The idea of “having” or “being” a self—even one in process—can fall into what Alfred North Whitehead called the fallacy of misplaced concreteness: mistaking something fluid and dynamic for a fixed entity.
This image of the improvisational, relational self—individual yet embedded in ensembles and always performing itself—offers a valuable framework for understanding therapy. Social therapy, as envisioned by Holzman, embraces this spirit of improvisation. It mirrors the collaborative ethos of improvisational comedy, where participants respond to one another with a “Yes, and” rather than a “No, but.” This attitude fosters openness, collaboration, and the continuous creation of new possibilities.
- Jay McDaniel
Episodic Social Therapy
To this model of therapy as a social activity, I want to add another dimension: sometimes, therapy can happen unintentionally and momentarily, in settings where it is not recognized as "therapy" but still carries a healing potential. I call this episodic social therapy. One context where I have seen—and performed—this is through music-making.
I am an amateur musician who volunteers to play singalong music for people in memory care units at local senior centers. I also perform with a band at a small, family-owned restaurant in Conway, Arkansas, called Toad Suck Bucks. In both settings, moments of connection emerge through music, bridging gaps between people whose lives, perspectives, or cognitive capacities may differ greatly. These moments, though fleeting, carry healing potential through shared joy and spontaneity.
In the memory care units, my fellow performers are residents who have lost capacities for short-term memory and executive functioning. Our time together is an opportunity for both them and me to engage in music we love. As they tap their feet and sing along when able, we create a kind of theatrical event that lasts about forty-five minutes. In this shared space, a form of healing takes place—not through words but through the act of being together. The music becomes a bridge between us, connecting my cognitive world with theirs, shaped by memory loss yet still vibrant. In crossing that bridge, we rediscover the spark of spontaneity that resides within every human self.
At Toad Suck Bucks, another kind of bridge is crossed—this time, between political and cultural divides. Many of the restaurant’s patrons hold conservative views that differ from my own. As I write this, an election season is underway, and political tensions are high, often accompanied by mutual distrust. Many of the men wear Trump hats, signaling their identity and political stance. These hats are not just accessories; they are part of a performance of belonging. I, too, perform in what I wear—always casual, always non-political, signaling neutrality.
Yet, when the music starts, these differences momentarily dissolve. The singalong songs invite patrons to participate, and they do so enthusiastically. For a time, political divisions fade, replaced by a shared mood of enjoyment, spontaneity, and mutual appreciation. Through familiar tunes that evoke good memories, everyone becomes part of the ensemble, including me. In these moments, healing emerges—not from agreement or shared beliefs but from the simple act of being together, present with one another through music.
I see similar instances of incidental social therapy in many other contexts: in casual conversations with strangers, shared laughter at community events, cooperative activities like gardening or cooking, or spontaneous acts of kindness. A stranger holding the door with a warm smile, a shared joke in passing, or neighbors helping one another during a storm—all these are small but meaningful moments of connection.
In formal and informal settings alike—whether in senior care units, restaurants, or elsewhere—shared activities create fleeting yet powerful experiences of connection. These moments may not constitute therapy in the traditional sense, but they carry a therapeutic dimension. Through shared performance, conversation, and action, we uncover hidden capacities for spontaneity, empathy, and joy, even across cognitive, cultural, or political divides. These small acts of incidental social therapy remind us that healing often arises in ordinary encounters when we meet others where they are—with openness, creativity, and kindness.
- Jay McDaniel
To this model of therapy as a social activity, I want to add another dimension: sometimes, therapy can happen unintentionally and momentarily, in settings where it is not recognized as "therapy" but still carries a healing potential. I call this episodic social therapy. One context where I have seen—and performed—this is through music-making.
I am an amateur musician who volunteers to play singalong music for people in memory care units at local senior centers. I also perform with a band at a small, family-owned restaurant in Conway, Arkansas, called Toad Suck Bucks. In both settings, moments of connection emerge through music, bridging gaps between people whose lives, perspectives, or cognitive capacities may differ greatly. These moments, though fleeting, carry healing potential through shared joy and spontaneity.
In the memory care units, my fellow performers are residents who have lost capacities for short-term memory and executive functioning. Our time together is an opportunity for both them and me to engage in music we love. As they tap their feet and sing along when able, we create a kind of theatrical event that lasts about forty-five minutes. In this shared space, a form of healing takes place—not through words but through the act of being together. The music becomes a bridge between us, connecting my cognitive world with theirs, shaped by memory loss yet still vibrant. In crossing that bridge, we rediscover the spark of spontaneity that resides within every human self.
At Toad Suck Bucks, another kind of bridge is crossed—this time, between political and cultural divides. Many of the restaurant’s patrons hold conservative views that differ from my own. As I write this, an election season is underway, and political tensions are high, often accompanied by mutual distrust. Many of the men wear Trump hats, signaling their identity and political stance. These hats are not just accessories; they are part of a performance of belonging. I, too, perform in what I wear—always casual, always non-political, signaling neutrality.
Yet, when the music starts, these differences momentarily dissolve. The singalong songs invite patrons to participate, and they do so enthusiastically. For a time, political divisions fade, replaced by a shared mood of enjoyment, spontaneity, and mutual appreciation. Through familiar tunes that evoke good memories, everyone becomes part of the ensemble, including me. In these moments, healing emerges—not from agreement or shared beliefs but from the simple act of being together, present with one another through music.
I see similar instances of incidental social therapy in many other contexts: in casual conversations with strangers, shared laughter at community events, cooperative activities like gardening or cooking, or spontaneous acts of kindness. A stranger holding the door with a warm smile, a shared joke in passing, or neighbors helping one another during a storm—all these are small but meaningful moments of connection.
In formal and informal settings alike—whether in senior care units, restaurants, or elsewhere—shared activities create fleeting yet powerful experiences of connection. These moments may not constitute therapy in the traditional sense, but they carry a therapeutic dimension. Through shared performance, conversation, and action, we uncover hidden capacities for spontaneity, empathy, and joy, even across cognitive, cultural, or political divides. These small acts of incidental social therapy remind us that healing often arises in ordinary encounters when we meet others where they are—with openness, creativity, and kindness.
- Jay McDaniel
The Flourishing of Life
From Individual Healing to Social Flourishing
Social therapy reorients healing from an isolated individual endeavor toward a collective experience, where personal growth arises within communities. When people engage in therapy as part of an ensemble—responding to one another with openness, spontaneity, and curiosity—they practice living in a way that reflects the values necessary for social transformation.
Incidental social therapy, in turn, models these principles informally, demonstrating that brief moments of connection—through music, conversation, or shared action—can foster empathy, reduce alienation, and cultivate solidarity. Both forms of therapy teach that healing is not the absence of difficulty but the ability to live meaningfully with others despite those difficulties.
This shift in focus—from the individual to the collective—points toward a new vision of well-being, one rooted in relationships and shared experiences. Such a vision is crucial for an ecological civilization, where human flourishing is understood as inseparable from the flourishing of ecosystems, communities, and other beings. Just as social therapy encourages us to see ourselves as part of ensembles, ecological civilization asks us to recognize our interdependence with all life. Healing in this context becomes not just an individual pursuit but a communal practice aimed at creating just, sustainable, and compassionate ways of living.
Improvisation and Social Change
A key insight from social therapy is that growth emerges through improvisation—responding creatively to the unexpected and building on what others offer. This practice of saying “Yes, and” to life’s challenges, rather than resisting or denying them, mirrors the adaptive and collaborative mindset necessary for addressing complex social issues. Climate change, systemic injustice, and other global crises demand the same kind of improvisational spirit: the willingness to experiment with new ways of living, build on partial successes, and remain open to uncertainty.
Incidental social therapy models this improvisational approach in everyday encounters. In moments of shared joy, humor, or kindness—whether in a music session, a casual conversation, or a spontaneous act of care—we practice the art of building bridges across differences. These small acts of connection are not trivial; they are rehearsals for a more inclusive society. By fostering empathy, cooperation, and creative engagement with difference, incidental social therapy helps lay the groundwork for broader social transformation.
From Alienation to Belonging
Both social and incidental social therapy address a profound challenge of our time: the crisis of alienation. In modern societies, individuals often feel disconnected—from one another, from their communities, and from the natural world. This sense of isolation fuels consumerism, political polarization, and ecological neglect. Social therapy offers a remedy by encouraging people to experience themselves as part of a larger whole, where personal meaning arises through collective action.
Incidental social therapy reveals that moments of belonging can occur anywhere—at a restaurant, in a garden, or during a storm. These moments remind us that connection is always available, even in divided or fragmented contexts. When we engage in these fleeting but meaningful acts of connection, we create spaces where new forms of community can emerge. Over time, such practices can shift social norms, fostering cultures of care and inclusion. In an ecological civilization, belonging is not restricted to human communities but extends to all beings, recognizing the intrinsic value of life in all its forms.
Toward an Ecological Civilization
An ecological civilization requires more than policy changes or technological solutions; it demands a transformation in how we relate to one another and the world. Social therapy, with its emphasis on relational growth and collective creativity, provides a framework for cultivating the kinds of relationships that an ecological civilization requires. Incidental social therapy, meanwhile, reminds us that these transformations can begin in the smallest interactions—in music-making, shared meals, or spontaneous acts of kindness.
Both forms of therapy teach us to see the world not as a collection of isolated individuals but as an interconnected web of relationships, where every action contributes to the whole. This perspective challenges the alienation, exploitation, and individualism that underpin many of our current social systems. By fostering empathy, creativity, and cooperation, social and incidental social therapy offer pathways toward more just, sustainable, and compassionate ways of living.
In the vision of ecological civilization, the health of human communities is intertwined with the well-being of ecosystems. Just as incidental social therapy bridges cognitive, cultural, and political divides, ecological civilization seeks to bridge the divide between humanity and the natural world. It asks us to move beyond transactional relationships and embrace relational ways of being that honor the intrinsic worth of all life. In this way, the healing practices embodied by social and incidental social therapy become not just tools for personal growth but essential elements in the larger project of social transformation.
Ultimately, social therapy and incidental social therapy invite us to participate in the co-creation of a world where justice, sustainability, and compassion are not distant ideals but lived realities. They remind us that healing, growth, and transformation are ongoing processes—improvised, relational, and shared. In the small moments of connection that arise through music, conversation, or shared action, we catch glimpses of what an ecological civilization might look like: a world where every being, human and non-human alike, is seen, valued, and included in the unfolding drama of life.
- Jay McDaniel
Social therapy reorients healing from an isolated individual endeavor toward a collective experience, where personal growth arises within communities. When people engage in therapy as part of an ensemble—responding to one another with openness, spontaneity, and curiosity—they practice living in a way that reflects the values necessary for social transformation.
Incidental social therapy, in turn, models these principles informally, demonstrating that brief moments of connection—through music, conversation, or shared action—can foster empathy, reduce alienation, and cultivate solidarity. Both forms of therapy teach that healing is not the absence of difficulty but the ability to live meaningfully with others despite those difficulties.
This shift in focus—from the individual to the collective—points toward a new vision of well-being, one rooted in relationships and shared experiences. Such a vision is crucial for an ecological civilization, where human flourishing is understood as inseparable from the flourishing of ecosystems, communities, and other beings. Just as social therapy encourages us to see ourselves as part of ensembles, ecological civilization asks us to recognize our interdependence with all life. Healing in this context becomes not just an individual pursuit but a communal practice aimed at creating just, sustainable, and compassionate ways of living.
Improvisation and Social Change
A key insight from social therapy is that growth emerges through improvisation—responding creatively to the unexpected and building on what others offer. This practice of saying “Yes, and” to life’s challenges, rather than resisting or denying them, mirrors the adaptive and collaborative mindset necessary for addressing complex social issues. Climate change, systemic injustice, and other global crises demand the same kind of improvisational spirit: the willingness to experiment with new ways of living, build on partial successes, and remain open to uncertainty.
Incidental social therapy models this improvisational approach in everyday encounters. In moments of shared joy, humor, or kindness—whether in a music session, a casual conversation, or a spontaneous act of care—we practice the art of building bridges across differences. These small acts of connection are not trivial; they are rehearsals for a more inclusive society. By fostering empathy, cooperation, and creative engagement with difference, incidental social therapy helps lay the groundwork for broader social transformation.
From Alienation to Belonging
Both social and incidental social therapy address a profound challenge of our time: the crisis of alienation. In modern societies, individuals often feel disconnected—from one another, from their communities, and from the natural world. This sense of isolation fuels consumerism, political polarization, and ecological neglect. Social therapy offers a remedy by encouraging people to experience themselves as part of a larger whole, where personal meaning arises through collective action.
Incidental social therapy reveals that moments of belonging can occur anywhere—at a restaurant, in a garden, or during a storm. These moments remind us that connection is always available, even in divided or fragmented contexts. When we engage in these fleeting but meaningful acts of connection, we create spaces where new forms of community can emerge. Over time, such practices can shift social norms, fostering cultures of care and inclusion. In an ecological civilization, belonging is not restricted to human communities but extends to all beings, recognizing the intrinsic value of life in all its forms.
Toward an Ecological Civilization
An ecological civilization requires more than policy changes or technological solutions; it demands a transformation in how we relate to one another and the world. Social therapy, with its emphasis on relational growth and collective creativity, provides a framework for cultivating the kinds of relationships that an ecological civilization requires. Incidental social therapy, meanwhile, reminds us that these transformations can begin in the smallest interactions—in music-making, shared meals, or spontaneous acts of kindness.
Both forms of therapy teach us to see the world not as a collection of isolated individuals but as an interconnected web of relationships, where every action contributes to the whole. This perspective challenges the alienation, exploitation, and individualism that underpin many of our current social systems. By fostering empathy, creativity, and cooperation, social and incidental social therapy offer pathways toward more just, sustainable, and compassionate ways of living.
In the vision of ecological civilization, the health of human communities is intertwined with the well-being of ecosystems. Just as incidental social therapy bridges cognitive, cultural, and political divides, ecological civilization seeks to bridge the divide between humanity and the natural world. It asks us to move beyond transactional relationships and embrace relational ways of being that honor the intrinsic worth of all life. In this way, the healing practices embodied by social and incidental social therapy become not just tools for personal growth but essential elements in the larger project of social transformation.
Ultimately, social therapy and incidental social therapy invite us to participate in the co-creation of a world where justice, sustainability, and compassion are not distant ideals but lived realities. They remind us that healing, growth, and transformation are ongoing processes—improvised, relational, and shared. In the small moments of connection that arise through music, conversation, or shared action, we catch glimpses of what an ecological civilization might look like: a world where every being, human and non-human alike, is seen, valued, and included in the unfolding drama of life.
- Jay McDaniel
More on a Process Approach to
Social Therapeutics and Social Therapy
- The Garden as an Inclusive Learning Center: A Zone of Proximal Development
- The Universe as a Theatrical Event: Co-Creativity, Improvisation, and Polydrama
- Embracing the Many: A Mysticism of Multiplicity
- No Need to Decide: Process Philosophy and the need for Cognitive Flexibility
- Improvisational Learning: Vigotsky, Whitehead, and the Zone of Becoming
- Play, Process, and Possibility: The East Side Institute