Sir: I read with interest Chris Mace's views on the relevance of personal psychotherapy to training (Psychiatric Bulletin, January 2001, 25, 3-4). As a specialist registrar in general adult psychiatry, I have recently started psychodrama training as my special interest. When Moreno, the founder of psychodrama and philosophical antagonist of psychoanalysis, met briefly with Freud in 1912, Moreno said, “I start where you leave off…. You analyze their dreams, I give them the courage to dream again” (Reference MarineauMarineau, 1989).

Psychodrama is an action method of psychotherapy, working in groups. The unique quality of training is that trainees participate in psychodrama using their own experience. Experimental work of 730 hours must be completed. This is challenging, so personal psychotherapy is mandatory.

Managing the pain of the human psyche, recognising trauma that presents as mental illness, acknowledging that the pain of living can be less bearable than the pain of dying — this is fundamental to psychiatry. Psychiatrists need and have empathy, perhaps too much. We need to be able to bear the most terrifying stories. Everyone has their own. We need resilience as well as empathy for this. If personal therapy can facilitate this it should be considered a recommended part of training and continuing professional development at all stages of our careers.