Draft:Carlos Andrés Raimundo

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Carlos Raimundo is a writer, researcher and innovator in psychotherapy and the creator of The Play of Life and RCompass. Raimundo is an Argentinean psychiatrist, researcher, and innovator in psychotherapy, currently residing in Australia since 1986. He is renowned for his contributions to psychotherapy, spirituality, neuroscience, behaviour change and psychodrama. His research focuses on bypassing cognitive biases to enhance insight into one's own and others' emotions and actions, promoting behavioural change. Raimundo is best known for creating "The Play of Life" and RCompass, tools designed to facilitate relational and life transformation by bypassing verbal communication barriers.

Family background and childhood

Carlos Raimundo was born on September 17, 1952, in Buenos Aires., Argentina. He is the eldest of three siblings, born to second-generation Italian migrants Andrés Carlos Raimundo, a paediatrician, and Nélida Rantica Raimundo, a role model for women through her work in her church giving women an opportunity to find their dignity and self-esteem in an oppressive time. Contrasts marked Carlos' upbringing, as his father, originally an atheist and socialist, experienced a profound spiritual transformation, becoming a Christian when Carlos was four years old. This duality of scientific and spiritual influences shaped Carlos's worldview.

Education

Carlos committed to Christianity at 17, focusing on the essential teachings of Jesus beyond dogma. This attitude provoked his expulsion from the church when he was 22. He studied medicine at Córdoba University during a politically turbulent period in Argentina known as the Dirty War. During his studies, he was introduced to the work of Jacob L. Moreno, the father of sociometry and psychodrama, whose concepts deeply resonated with him. Carlos trained in psychodrama under J.G. Rojas-Bermúdez, expanding his interest in neuropsychology, ethology, philosophy and expressive therapies.

Carlos completed his medical degree and specialised in psychiatry. He founded the Institute of Interpersonal Relationships in Buenos Aires in 1982 with Jorge Leon, providing psychodrama training, psychotherapy, and support for Christian ministry throughout Latin America. During this time, he developed a miniature form of psychodrama, later evolving into The Play of Life, a tool widely used in psychotherapy, coaching, and self-help.

In 1986, Carlos emigrated to Australia, influenced by dissatisfaction with Argentina's political climate, particularly with the Military government, and during the Falklands War. In Australia, he initially worked with the Spanish-speaking migrant community before establishing his private practice. He created the School of Contemporary Psychodrama under the Eremos Institute, an alternative to mainstream psychodrama education in Australia.

Carlos furthered his studies in business at MGSM, Macquarie University, completing a Master's degree with a focus on business relationships and authored Relationship Capital. He continues to contribute to the fields of neuroscience and relationships, publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

Professional Journey and the Creation of The Play of Life

Raimundo’s professional journey began with a deep interest in helping others, which first manifested in his roles as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist. His approach was significantly shaped by diverse philosophical, theological, and scientific influences, including the work of Jacob L. Moreno, Viktor Frankl, J.G. Rojas-Bermúdez, and Francis Schaeffer. These figures guided him toward understanding the importance of relational dynamics in healing and personal growth. During the military government, he was a member of the Latin American Fraternity of Theology (LAFT), a protestant conservative group consisting of committed and recognised theologians and sociologists who reflected on the reality of Argentina and Latin America and, later on, the Falkland’s war influenced by the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. There were some brands of Liberation Theology, including Leonardo Boff and Miguel Angel Bonino. In Argentina, a key figure was Rene Padilla

In 1984, during the EIRENE International Family Therapy Congress in Colombia, Raimundo was invited to present an innovative technique for family counselling. This led to the development of the Play of Life, a method that uses a miniature theatre format to help individuals visually express and resolve relational conflicts. Grounded in principles of psychodrama, sociometry, and neuroscience, The Play of Life serves as a 3D visualisation and simulation method that fosters a deeper understanding of interpersonal relationships. It encourages participants to "show" rather than "tell" their issues, using figurines or digital platforms to represent challenges, thereby accessing memories and insights that may be obscured by rational thought. The method directly accesses the limbic system, or emotional brain, bypassing rationalisations or cognitive biases that create compensatory narratives in response to feelings of uncertainty and failure. The Play of Life is a versatile tool that can be used in various therapeutic models, facilitating problem identification within minutes and complementing other methods, such as CBT, EMDR, and positive psychology. It is particularly effective in working with children, adolescents, and cultures where emotional expression is not commonly encouraged.

The Play of Life is versatile and applicable in various contexts, including therapeutic, coaching, and educational environments. It has been widely adopted for self-help, human resource management, counselling, and corporate training. The method has proven effective in helping individuals map out their relationships, assess interpersonal dynamics, and identify steps toward personal growth and fulfilment.

Another development by Raimundo is RCompass, an application that visually maps relationships and, powered by algorithms, objectifies the subjective world of relationships.

Raimundo has been featured in the Financial Review and on television programs, where he has shared his views on personal growth and community, particularly within the church. Although technically retired, Raimundo remains active in his research and contributions to professional associations such as the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP), where he serves on the Executive Council and the Research and Educational Committees, and the International Association of Group Psychotherapy (IAGP), where he chairs the Family Therapy section and serves as a board member.

Career

Active Learning International Pty Ltd

Raimundo founded Active Learning International Pty Ltd, under which he developed the Play of Life and the RCompass Relationship Management App. He currently serves as the Interim Chair of the Family Therapy Section of the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes (IAGP) and is an Adjunct Research Fellow at Charles Sturt University.

Carlos works together with Melanie Raimundo, who is the current director of Active Learning International.

Leadership and Executive Coaching

Carlos has provided leadership and team coaching to a variety of organisations, including HealthShare NSW, Origin Energy, and Merk Sharp & Dohme. His coaching practices emphasise emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and resilience training. He has worked with senior leaders and teams across multiple sectors, delivering educational programs on communication, collaboration, and transformational leadership.

Academic Contributions

As an Adjunct Research Fellow at Charles Sturt University since 2019, Carlos contributes to research in emotional and social intelligence. He has also served as a lecturer in Relational Psychodynamics and Supervision at Jesuit College of Spirituality, Melbourne University of Divinity.

Professional Memberships and Leadership Roles

Carlos is an Executive Council Member of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP) and has held several leadership roles within professional organisations, including Chair of the Family Therapy Section of the IAGP. He is actively involved in various professional organisations, advocating for the advancement of psychodrama and group therapy practices.

Memberships

• AANZPA (Aotearoa Australian New Zealand Psychodrama Association)
• ACSA (Australian Clinical Supervision Association)
• ASGPP (American Society Group Therapy and Psychodrama)
• CCAA (Christian Counselling Association Australia)
• IAGP (International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes)
• SDI (Spiritual Direction International)

Leadership Roles

• Adjunct Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University
• Scientific Committee member, IAGP 2025 International conference in Sapporo, Japan
• Board Member, International Association of Group Process (IAGP)
• Chair, IAGP Family Therapy Section
• Executive Council Member, American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP)
• Director and Trainer Educator and Practitioner, Argentinean Psychodrama and Group Psychotherapy Association
• Director of Psychodrama and Educator, AANZPA Aotearoa Australian and New Zealand Psychodrama Association

Awards and Recognitions

Carlos has received several prestigious awards, including the 2024 David Keeper Award for Writing and Research from ASGPP and the Innovators Award in 2004 for his significant contributions to the fields of psychodrama and group therapy.

Publications

He is the author of Relationship Capital: True Success through Coaching and Managing Relationships in Business and Life (2002) and has contributed to various journal articles on topics including psychodrama, emotional intelligence, and leadership.

Other articles, blogs and events developed by Carlos can be found here https://playoflife.com/blog

Articles

Play of Life

The Play of Life with Children and Teens

Being a Moses and a Pharaoh - A personal story

The MacKays - three different perspectives

Optimising the use of Figures in Therapy and Coaching

Show me! Using digital figures to facilitate conversations in systemic therapy

A Biological View of the Method’s Impact on Behavioral Change

Managing the Intention & Behaviour Gap

History

History of the Pillars of the Life

Biology

A Biological View of the Method’s Impact on Behavioral Change

Conflict and Collaboration

Let's talk– lessons from physiology

IAGP

Practical tools for dealing with parenting conflict in family therapy and leadership

Espanol

Vino nuevo en odres nuevos

Eventos

¿Qué hacer cuando no sé que hacer?

Neuroscience

Managing the Intention & Behaviour Gap

A Biological View of the Method’s Impact on Behavioral Change

Published Journal Articles

Show me! Using digital figures to facilitate conversations in systemic therapy

Managing the Intention & Behaviour Gap

RCompass, a Digital Sociometry. What Would Moreno Think About It?