Simmons, D. (2025). Tele’Drama Fusional InterReality™: Bridging Time, Space, and Human Connection Through Hybrid Action Methods.

Simmons, D. (2025, March). Tele’Drama Fusional InterReality™: Bridging time, space, and human connection through hybrid action methods. Tele’Drama Press. URL HERE
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Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™: Bridging Time, Space, and Human Connection Through Hybrid Action Methods

Author: Dr. Daniela Simmons, PhD, TEP; Creator of the Tele'Drama Method; Founder & Director, International Tele'Drama Institute

Date: March 2025

Author: Daniela Simmons, PhD, TEP, is an international trainer and supervisor, the creator of the Tele'Drama method, and the founder and director of the International Tele'Drama Institute, which has welcomed thousands of people from 82 countries. Dr. Simmons is the 2022 ASGPP recipient of the Innovator's Award for the creation of the Tele'Drama method, the 2024 recipient of the Hannah B. Weiner Award for outstanding dedication as a leader of the ASGPP, and the 2025 recipient of the Ann Hale Sociometry Award. She is the Immediate Past President of the American Society in Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP). Her professional experience, both in Europe and the United States, spans educational, research, and consultancy work in the social sciences and mental health. Dr. Simmons received training in the psychoanalysis of group relations in organizations at the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations in London. She has been utilizing action methods since 1995 in Europe and since 2005 in the United States.

Keywords: Tele'Drama, Fusional InterReality, psychodrama, sociodrama, virtual action methods, hybrid methodologies, group psychotherapy, spontaneous dramatization, experiential learning, digital inclusion

Abstract
This article is an excerpt from a forthcoming comprehensive book by Dr. Daniela Simmons, in collaboration with members of the Tele’drama Leadership team, which will provide expanded theoretical foundations, practical applications, and case studies on Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ and its transformational role in psychotherapy, education, and international group work.

Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ is a groundbreaking methodology that expands the scope of classical action methods such as psychodrama, sociodrama, and sociometry into virtual and hybrid environments. Developed by Dr. Daniela Simmons, this approach leverages technological platforms to create a shared experiential space where participants across different physical locations co-create dramatic scenes in real-time. This article outlines the theoretical foundation of Fusional InterReality, explores its contribution to the evolving landscape of teletherapy and digital group work, and illustrates its application with practical examples from international training and therapeutic contexts. The method not only maintains the depth and spontaneity of in-person encounters but also fosters increased inclusion, cultural exchange, and innovation in action-based education and mental health practices.

Theoretical Framework and Roots of the Methodology
Tele'Drama is a method, an international institute, and a global community. It was created long before the COVID-19 pandemic with the primary objective of giving people from around the world the opportunity to work together in groups using experiential methods in action.

The International Tele'Drama Institute (ITI) offers training in action and expressive methods, therapy, counseling, and related interventions using online video conferencing platforms. Since its establishment, thousands of people from over 83 countries have attended Tele'Drama training modules, support groups, social events, and celebrations. Tele'Drama represents a vital evolution in the future of action methods, bridging geographical, cultural, and temporal divides while increasing equity in access to mental health, education, and connection for individuals who face physical or situational limitations.

The methodology was founded by Dr. Daniela Simmons, who began exploring online applications of psychodrama and other experiential methods in 2012. Working with groups, colleagues, and university students in the United States and internationally, she experimented across various platforms before formally naming and registering the method in 2017, ultimately selecting Zoom as the platform of choice. As the methodology matured, the Tele'Drama International Institute was created to welcome participants from all over the world, offering a structured, safe, and inclusive approach to training and personal development.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Tele'Drama was already a well-developed methodology. It became a leading approach for offering engaging real-time experiences in training, therapy, large-scale conference events, and social gatherings—supporting tens of thousands of people worldwide during a time of isolation and uncertainty. The development of the International Tele'Drama Virtual Center—a fully equipped online platform with multiple virtual rooms and translation features—allowed for seamless adaptation and expansion. With the contribution of global colleagues known as the "Tele'Drama Dream Team," a collaborative and dynamic culture of innovation was established.

In 2021, as the pandemic began to ease, Dr. Simmons recognized significant shifts in the field of action and experiential methods. While some people were eager to return to in-person settings, many had become accustomed to the benefits and accessibility of online formats. A hybrid model was becoming increasingly necessary —but the traditional hybrid frameworks lacked the depth of integration needed for truly immersive, equal participation.

Moreover, Dr. Simmons was keenly aware of evolving generational preferences. With many members of Generation Z entering adulthood, higher education, and the workforce—alongside the rising presence of Generation Alpha—there was a growing need to adapt methodologies to align with digital-native expectations. Bridging the needs of multiple generations became central to the creation of a new hybrid methodology that honored both technological fluency and experiential depth.

This gave birth to Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™—a major innovation that merges physical and digital environments into a single, unified experiential stage. The methodology reflects an inevitable future where technology plays an essential role in fostering connection, inclusion, and learning across distances and generations.

What is commonly referred to as a hybrid environment or methodology typically involves a limited integration of in-person and online participants. In most traditional models, either a presenter delivers a lecture or presentation from one location to an audience gathered in a conference room at another location, or the primary activities occur in a single physical space with participants co-located. Others may connect individually from their own remote settings—often only to observe, and at best, to submit questions via chat. In such formats, virtual participants are not fully engaged in the experiential process and remain peripheral to the central action.

In contrast, Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ offers a radically different and innovative approach. Introduced by Dr. Daniela Simmons in 2021, this hybrid methodology enables the creation of multidimensional experiential scenes, in which all participants—regardless of their physical location—engage as active contributors, not passive observers. Whether individuals connect from their own devices or are part of a group gathered in a physical setting, everyone is invited to step onto the same shared experiential stage, known as the Tele’Drama Stage, and participate in real-time action methods.

This model represents a significant shift: it moves beyond disconnected virtual experiences toward a unified Fusional InterReality™, where physical and digital realities blend into a single field of authentic interaction. The boundaries between online and in-person dissolve, allowing all participants to be equally involved in role exploration, dramatization, and spontaneous co-creation.

Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ builds upon the foundational principles of psychodrama developed by Dr. Jacob Moreno, including spontaneity, role theory, and the therapeutic use of dramatization. At the same time, it integrates contemporary concepts such as embodied cognition and virtual presence, recognizing the transformative potential of technology when used with ethical care and intentionality.

Through synchronized action, shared symbols, and collaborative roleplay, participants from across the globe co-create dynamic group narratives. Fusional InterReality™ transcends time zones and geography to foster a cohesive, inclusive, and powerful group process. It demonstrates that digital space—far from being a limitation—can serve as a bridge to deeper human connection, collective creativity, and meaningful transformation.

Examples of Application

Blended Group Participation:
In many Tele'Drama applications, individuals join from their homes or offices, while others participate in person as groups in classrooms, therapeutic centers, long-term care communities, gardens, or even city streets. Regardless of their physical setup, all participants engage equally on the shared Tele'Drama stage. A director may lead from the United States, with the protagonist located in Bulgaria, surrounded by a local group, while each auxiliary or double joins from elsewhere—either individually or with their own in-person group. This fully interactive format ensures equal engagement, spontaneity, and depth for all participants, regardless of geography.

Immersive Scene Creation: Across hundreds of sessions—whether at conferences, training modules, or special events—Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ has demonstrated its capacity to support a wide range of immersive scenes. These include symbolically rich and emotionally resonant experiences such as the birth of a child, unresolved memories, unspoken truths, trauma reenactments, and celebrations. Participants co-create scenes from nighttime dreams, transgenerational legacies, and imagined meetings across time. Using drawing, imagination, or virtual props, each enactment invites participants into a shared dramatic reality that bridges personal and collective consciousness.

To ensure the effectiveness of such multi-setting hybrid experiences, the following elements are essential:

1. Technological Equipment: For optimal participation, each location must be equipped with reliable and high-quality technology—including a wide-angle camera with good resolution (especially important for capturing in-person group dynamics), a projector and a screen or, in smaller settings, a wide monitor or a TV display, a clear microphone and audio output, and stable high-speed internet. For large events, professional-grade equipment is highly recommended. However, the Fusional InterReality™ methodology can also be successfully implemented with simpler setups: mobile phones may substitute for professional cameras and microphones, and large screens can be replaced with a TV screen or a white wall for projection. These tools are essential for creating a unified shared stage experience and ensuring that all participants can see and hear one another in real time. Without this, the immersive and collaborative nature of Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ may be compromised. The creativity of the professionals involved, along with their commitment to connection, plays a vital role. When the desire to be together and to co-create meaningful group experiences is prioritized—despite potential technical or logistical challenges—solutions often emerge naturally. It is this spirit of innovation and collective intention that makes the Fusional InterReality™ experience truly successful and inclusive.
2. Session Planning: Advance planning is crucial, taking into account the size and number of groups, session goals, and structural components. Due to the high intensity and complexity of hybrid work, thoughtful sequencing and role distribution must be carefully managed.
3. Skilled Directing: The director must possess a strong foundation in psychodrama and Tele'Drama methodology, with experience facilitating in both online and hybrid formats. The capacity to adapt in real-time to varied technological and group dynamics is key.

Conclusion
Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ represents not just an adaptation to modern challenges, but a significant reconceptualization of what is possible in the field of experiential methods. It responds to evolving technological landscapes, generational shifts, and the ongoing human need for authentic connection. By merging the virtual and physical into a cohesive experiential field, this methodology offers a path forward for psychotherapists, educators, group facilitators, and community leaders seeking to create meaningful encounters—regardless of geographic boundaries. As we navigate an increasingly interconnected and digital world, Tele'Drama International remains committed to inclusion, innovation, and the transformative power of action methods across cultures, time zones, and generations.

This article traced the origins of Tele'Drama® from its early development in 2012 and its formal establishment in 2017, and highlighted its role as a ready, resilient methodology during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explored how Tele'Drama provided a structured yet creative framework that enabled people around the world to continue engaging in therapeutic, educational, and community-based experiential work in real time. The introduction of Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ in 2021 marked a groundbreaking evolution in hybrid methodology, driven by both technological readiness and sociocultural necessity.

The article clarified how Fusional InterReality™ differs from traditional hybrid settings by offering equal, active participation to all members—whether joining individually or in local groups—and by establishing a unified experiential stage that transcends physical and virtual limitations.Practical applications, including immersive scene creation and blended group participation, illustrate how the methodology supports deep engagement through role-play, shared symbols, and co-created action. Essential requirements such as sufficient technology, thoughtful planning, and skilled directing were also reviewed, emphasizing how success is enhanced not only by tools but also by the creative intent and commitment of the facilitators and participants.Tele'Drama Fusional InterReality™ is more than a method—it's a movement toward a globally inclusive, intergenerational, and emotionally resonant model of experiential work. It invites us to step into the future of learning, healing, and connection—together.


References

• Simmons, D., Christoph, A., Lee, T. L., & Karakılıç Üçer, H. (2022). Implementing Tele’Drama During the Pandemic. FORUM, Journal of the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes, 60–67.
• Simmons, D. (2021). Tele'Drama: A New Methodology for Online Experiential Work. In ASGPP 2021 Conference Proceedings.
• Simmons, D. (2023). Fusional InterReality™ and the Future of Action Methods in Hybrid Space. Presented at the 4th International Tele’Drama Conference.
• Moreno, J., & Fischel, J. (1942). Spontaneity procedures in television broadcasting with special emphasis on interpersonal relation systems. Sociometry, 5(1), 7–28. https://psychodrama.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/resources/spontaneity-procedures.pdf

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