About me
I’m Haydn Briggs, a therapist and licensed clinical social worker in Philadelphia and Malvern, Pennsylvania, and someone who’s been in both chairs. I grew up in Malvern, not far from my office there.
How I work
My work is psychodynamic and experiential. I’m a psychodramatist, so I think a lot about roles: the ones we were handed growing up, and the ones we keep playing long after they stopped fitting. I think of the therapy room as a laboratory for making new choices.
Research
I’m completing my doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania, where my research looks at codependency: how childhood experiences shape it, and how spontaneity, our capacity to meet a moment freshly instead of on autopilot, might help loosen it. I’m also a research consultant with Be a Part of the Conversation, where I work on family recovery.
I’ve published on men’s group work, addiction treatment, psychodrama, PTSD and CPTSD, and experiential group work for trauma survivors.
Other work
I co-direct the Philadelphia Area Psychodrama Institute, where I train therapists and help groups and organizations work through conflict. I’m also a guide at Onsite Workshops, and I speak at conferences and universities.
Outside work
When I’m not working, I like to hike, read, write, play music, travel, and play video games, most of those with my dog, Kid.
-
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Candidate, University of Pennsylvania
Master of Social Service (MSS), Bryn Mawr College
-
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Pennsylvania
-
Practitioner Applicant for Trainer (PAT) of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy, American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy
Certified Practitioner (CP) of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy, American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy
Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), American Group Psychotherapy Association
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist Level 3, IFS Institute
Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
-
Giacomucci, S., Marquit, J., Gupta, R., & Briggs, H. (2025). Spontaneity’s relationship to PTSD, depression, anxiety, and traumatic grief: An analysis of psychodrama’s curative agent. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 102407.
Giacomucci, S., Marquit, J., Briggs, H., & Gupta, R. (2025). Psychodrama’s effects on PTSD, depression, anxiety, traumatic grief, prolonged grief disorder, and spontaneity: A mixed methods study in inpatient addiction treatment. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 93, 102293.
Giacomucci, S., Marquit, J., Saccarelli, R., & Briggs, H. (2025). Psychodrama group psychotherapy as an effective treatment for PTSD and depression in inpatient substance use treatment: A mixed methods study. Social Work with Groups, 48(1), 6–21.
Giacomucci, S., & Briggs, H. (2024). Experiential group work with adult survivors of relational trauma and childhood sexual abuse. In C. Knight & G. L. Greif (Eds.), A Handbook of Contemporary Group Work Practice (pp. 220–235). Oxford University Press.
Giacomucci, S., & Briggs, H. (2024). Trauma-focused psychodrama. In Experiential Therapies for Treating Trauma.
Briggs, H. A. (2021). The group worker becoming: Moving from anxiety to spontaneity with the guys. Social Work with Groups, 44(1), 91–95.
-
Therapist, Private Practice
Co-Founder, Philadelphia Area Psychodrama Institute
Guide, Onsite Workshops
Research Consultant, Be a Part of the Conversation
-
American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy (ABE)
American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA)
American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP)
Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research (GSSWSR)
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Institute
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW)
Philadelphia Area Group Psychotherapy Society (PAGPS)
University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2)