HISTORY
The Association of Psychodrama for Children and Adolescents “KENDE Hanna” (APCA-KH) was founded in 2009 by the trainers of the groups in Cluj: Mrs. Hanna KENDE (France), the founder of the method, senior psychotherapist, trainer-supervisor, and Mrs. Blanka MIHÁLY, Csilla NÉMETH, and Viola SZEBENI (Hungary), trainers-supervisors. Some members of the first training group in Romania were also founders: Irén ILYÉS, Mária ORBÁN, Mónika ROMÁN, and Enikő SZŐKE.
The first child and adolescent psychodrama training took place in Cluj-Napoca between 2003-2006, led by Mrs. Hanna KENDE and trainers from Hungary. Subsequently, two more groups were held, also led by Hungarian trainers, in Cluj-Napoca and Târgu-Mureș. These three groups trained approximately 60 specialists, of which about 20 are currently active, leading children’s groups and/or promoting the method at various professional forums. From the first training group, four participants were personally invited by Mrs. Hanna KENDE to become trainers in the method. Of these, three colleagues completed the trainer training and have since taken on this mission and responsibility.
APCA-KH was accredited in 2011 by the Romanian College of Psychologists (CoPsi) as a provider of professional training. In 2016, child and adolescent psychodrama was approved as a continuing education course for specialists, with re-approval granted in 2021 (approval no. 35/21.12.2021).
In 2019, APCA-KH celebrated its 10th anniversary by organizing a commemorative conference in Cluj-Napoca titled: Întâlnire-Találkozás-Encounter.
OBJECTIVES
- To support and promote psychodrama for children and adolescents, a method developed by Hanna KENDE, as a psychological intervention method, with the goal of applying it in psychotherapeutic practice for the benefit of clients.
- To represent the professional interests of specialists trained—or those who wish to be trained—in the psychodrama method for children and adolescents (Hanna KENDE’s approach).
- To develop the necessary procedures for accrediting the method with competent professional bodies in the country.
- To coordinate the organization of personal development and/or therapeutic groups for children and adolescents using Mrs. Hanna KENDE’s method.
- To organize seminars, conferences, and symposia (both national and international).
- To coordinate scientific research in the field.
STRUCTURE
In 2024, APCA-KH has 25 members. The General Assembly of the Association is held every spring, either in Cluj-Napoca or Târgu-Mureș, or online.
Board of Directors
- President: Mónika ROMÁN (Cluj-Napoca)
- Vice-President: Réka BALÁSY (Târgu-Mureș)
- Secretary: Edit LÁSZLÓ (Cluj-Napoca)
- Auditor: Enikő SZŐKE (Cluj-Napoca)
Professional Committee
- Honorary President: Hanna KENDE (France)
- President: Mária ORBÁN (Cluj-Napoca)
- Members: Mónika ROMÁN and Enikő SZŐKE (Cluj-Napoca)