"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference": reflection techniques for addiction psychiatry training.

Objective: The authors aim to incorporate educational reflection techniques in an addiction psychiatry postgraduate core rotation in order to increase critical self-awareness of attitudes, values, and beliefs related to working with people with substance use and other addictive disorders.

Methods: Reflection discussion times, reflection journaling, and mandatory end-of-rotation reflection papers were embedded into a core addiction psychiatry postgraduate training block. Qualitative analysis of 28 reflection papers was performed to determine key factors and constructs that impacted on the development of attitudes and professionalism.

Headspace theater: an innovative method for experiential learning of psychiatric symptomatology using modified role-playing and improvisational theater techniques.

Objective: Headspace Theater has been developed to allow small group learning of psychiatric conditions by creating role-play situations in which participants are placed in a scenario that simulates the experience of the condition.

Method: The authors conducted a literature review of role-playing techniques, interactive teaching, and experiential education, and performed consultations with experts in improvisational theater, live-action role-playing, and cognitive psychology (constructivism).

Results: Participants have universally rated the Headspace Theater experience positively.