Olin Leslie West M.D.'s Schools

• Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons , Class of 1970 MD

Olin Leslie West M.D.'s Affiliations

• The Enchanted Circle Theater Company

• Better Business Bureau

• The International Rescue Committee

Olin Leslie West M.D.'s Publications

• Princeton University, Olin L. West, MD April, 2011 by Olin L. West, MD A private research institution, Princeton University numbers among the eight members of the Ivy League and nine members of the Colonial Colleges (higher-educational institutions founded prior to the American Revolution). Established as the College of New Jersey in 1746, Princeton was the fourth formal college with degree-granting powers founded in the United States, which was then a British colony. First situated in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the University moved to Newark in 1747 and then Princeton in 1756. In 1896, the school officially changed its name to Princeton University. An exclusively undergraduate institution in its early years, Princeton University established its Graduate School in 1900. Though the University had maintained a sister college, Evelyn College for Women, for approximately a decade beginning in 1887, Princeton did not admit female undergraduates until 1969, when 148 women proudly joined the ranks of Princeton students. In general, Princeton University does not offer professional education, though the school does support a limited number of professional degrees and doctorates, largely through the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Princeton’s primary strength lies in the excellence of its graduate and undergraduate programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, as well as engineering. Throughout the period ranging from 2001 to 2010, Princeton has ranked either first or second among universities in the United States in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. In fact, Princeton placed first every year during that period except for 2009, and the University has since regained its premier ranking, which it currently shares with Harvard University. At present, more than 5,000 undergraduates and 2,400 graduate students receive instruction from 1,100 faculty members.

• Psychodrama as an Effective Therapy Approach, By Olin L. West, MD November, 2011 As a long-time psychiatrist focused on group therapy approaches, I received certification in Psychodrama from the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy. Psychodrama is an approach to psychotherapy that stresses verbal and non-verbal dramatic methods for exploring individual issues and problems. Through acting out these issues in a group setting, personal development at cognitive, behavioral, and affective levels is encouraged. Psychodrama is an inherently flexible and creative medium, with a wide range of psychiatric conditions accessible through its practice, including post-traumatic stress, self harm, drug-resistant depression, phobias, and substance abuse. Issues not classified as mental disorders may also be explored, including relationship, family, and lifestyle issues. The psychodramatic approach allows life situations to be approximated in a structured and guided environment. Through enacting or recreating specific scenes, protagonists gain new insight and often develop new life skills. Other group members play important support roles, taking parts in the drama as significant participants. The trained director facilitates the acting out of scenes that are often personal in nature. To introduce these issues in a group setting might not otherwise be possible. The benefits of psychodrama are not limited to the protagonist: modeling appropriate behaviors for a problematic situation benefits the entire group. Members are encouraged to evaluate dramatic actions in a supportive way, exploring avenues of positive self-empowerment. The multi-dimensionality of the psychodramatic approach frequently translates into greater effectiveness than verbal therapies can alone. A number of specific disciplines exist within psychodrama, including sociometry and sociodrama. Rather than being tied to one protagonist’s experience, the sociodramatic approach allows the group as a whole to tackle a common issue, such as emotional abuse or drug dependency. Within a supportive atmosphere, the group works together towards novel solutions for often difficult and intractable issues. Sociometry involves the measurement of social options and choices within a group. This approach seeks to bring often hidden and submerged patterns of acceptance and rejection to the surface, restructuring group values to foster cohesion and mutual understanding. Its applications go beyond the mental health field to include programs at schools and corporations. Psychodrama can also be effective as an individual therapeutic approach within a psychiatric setting. About the Author: Olin L. West, MD, spent 25 years as a psychiatrist, acting as Director of Psychodrama and Psychodrama Training at Four Winds Hospital in Katonah, New York. He currently serves as President of Wealth Preservation Services of Virginia, LLC.

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