SOCIAL THERAPEUTICS | HOME

The East Side Institute
welcomes you!

An international center for the study of social therapeutics and performance activism — bringing human and community development to the forefront of culture change and social transformation, and promoting alternative and radically humanizing approaches to psychology, education and community building.

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The Power of Revolutionary Play

Watch Lois Holzman’s TEDx presentation, “Play Helps Us Grow at Any Age”
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The Institute introduces its new podcast, “All Power to the Developing,” featuring conversation with developmentalists worldwide – each a beating heart in this all too cruel world.

All Power to the Developing

The International Class

Because what the world needs now is creativity, community and development! A year-long exploration of the Institute’s social-therapeutic, performatory approach to social activism and community building, led by Lois Holzman and faculty. Read the stories of our talented alumni HERE.

Enrollment for the class of 2023/2024 opens in January.

Meet Our Social Therapy and Emotional Development faculty!

Headed by Joyce Dattner, it includes Majo Castrillo, Ann Green, Hugh Polk, MD, Barbara Silverman and Rachel Mickenberg.
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Fred Newman

Co-founder Fred Newman — the creator of social therapy — led the Institute with Lois Holzman until his death in 2011. The author of numerous books and plays, he was the catalyst for building community-based developmental psychological, educational and cultural projects independently funded and volunteer driven. Read More

Social Therapeutics:
A Vygotskian / Wittgensteinian Synthesis

See some favorite quotes from Wittgenstein

ANNOUNCING —

Performing the World 2025!

All of us—human beings and the planet we are a part of—are meandering in a mess. The mess is not new, but it is spreading and deepening. What can we do about it? We can, and are, responding by creating and organizing power—and like the mess, the Performing the World community is also spreading and deepening.

What does creating and organizing power look like? How is the mess impacting the nature and tone of our creativity? These are some of the questions we want to explore at PTW 2025.

Since 2001, Performing the World (PTW) has been a global gathering for all who are using play, performance and the arts to engage and transform the world.

A Hub for Social Activists —

Performance Activism now in Japanese

Announcing the Japanese publication of Performance Activism by Dan Friedman (Shinyosha, 2025), translated by Institute Associate, Professor Yuji Moro.

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International Class Stories

“How shall we build together?” Introducing Vera Erac, a member of the 2004/2005 inaugural International Class. Vera shares her personal/political journey as a dancer, psychologist and community builder, and her developing passion for ensemble creativity and its relevance to our world today.

Watch International Class stories!

Associate News

The New York Amsterdam News has published a profile on Dr. Jessie Fields highlighting her work leading Institute initiative, Creating Our Mental Health—Jessie Fields: Changing Lives through medicine art and activism.

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Initiatives & Alliances —

Becoming a Book!

Lois Holzman’s “The Developmentalist” advice column is the centerpiece of a provocative new guide to better mental health — “an invitation to transform!”

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Developing Across Borders

Step onto a world stage and grow! At a time of extraordinary uncertainty, Developing Across Borders welcomes participants from across the world into a weekly, virtual, group-building activity.

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Meet the New Associates

Welcome our new Associates! Harouna Abdoulaye, Elizabeth Oyarese Adams, Yvette Alcott, Etty Elise Dafni, Bernard Einsiedler, Madhu Einsiedler, Louis Hinman, Chakradhar Iyyunni , Tamara Krneta, Morgane Masterman, Kate McGlynn, Eileen Moncoeur, and Shelley Schwartz.

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FEATURED EVENT | SEPT 27, 2025

Cracks and Rhizomes–Can We Save Ourselves from Ourselves?

A conversation with Bayo Akomalafe & Social Therapeutic Practitioners, September 27th (Details coming soon)

And read this fascinating conversation — a “Meandering Search for Method” — with Báyò Akómoláfé and Lois Holzman, hosted by Janet Wootten — which explores the “tyranny of trauma” and a practical-critical engagement of scientific psychology.

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