Mental Health Programs

Examples of Sessions, Workshops and Improv Jams Available

Magic Words: Communication and "Yes, And"

Using the improv concept of Yes And, participants will gain confidence, work together and create in positive, supportive ways. They will also heighten their listening and communication skills as they express themselves in a safe environment.

On the Spot: Public Speaking and Performance Anxiety/Stage Fright

Participants confront their stress related to public speaking. Through improv games individuals will gain confidence and learn presentation skills. The applications go beyond just public speaking though, touching on areas such as social skills, ability to work in a small group and a capacity for leading a team.

Heal Thyself: Humor and Self Care

There is a reason they say laughter is the best medicine. These games and exercises help participants find a way to heal themselves using Improv. Humor helps a person break down defense mechanisms, opening an individual's willingness to be vulnerable and express their feelings.

Let Go: Stress Reduction Through Improv

Studies show that adult play is very important. This module helps participants get out of their head, stepping away from life and spend time playing. Participants let go of the stresses that come from modern day to day life.

Us is More: Group Mind and Team-Building

While "On The Spot" enhances an individual's presentation skills, "Us Is More" games work on building groups that can think together, operating in-sync. Exercises include advanced group dynamics, where elements of trust and collaboration must be engaged for the group to achieve common goals.

Feelin' It: Emotional Intelligence and Empathy

Improv games help individuals explore their emotional intelligence. The gamut of emotions are not always easy to navigate, and these games aid the participant in knowing whether the emotion they are expressing is actually the one being received.

In a game environment participants are free to try on emotions, reactions and experiment with their communications. The stakes are lowered because there is laughter involved, but the value is enormous as participants explore and experience emotions in a positive way.

Unfreeze: Social Anxiety

Applying improvisation to real life situations is perhaps most obvious when it comes to improving an individual's communication skills in social situations. The exercises dramatically improve one's communication skills, building confidence to interact in a variety of situations.

All In: Community Relationships

Playing together, and laughing together, works wonders at building empathy. Improv as an art form is excellent at helping build connections, crosses cultural boundaries and levels the playing field among participants. The games bring people together in a positive way with humor. An outstanding historical example is the Hull House in Chicago, where Viola Spolin pioneered improv work that helped immigrants assimilate into society.

Our Stories Ourselves: Creative Storytelling and Expression

We all have a story, and we all tell our story in a variety of ways throughout our lives. Using improv techniques, participants have opportunities to hear their own stories, to hear them retold, to hear them repeated in dramatic fashion. Most importantly, everyone feels their story has been truly heard. In that vein, the act of listening to each others stories, and reacting in a positive, humorous way, brings a clarity to our own understanding of our stories.

Leading With Yes: For Group Leaders and Teachers

Group leaders have a large bag of tricks to get a group to work together towards a common goal. The "Yes, And" tool that improv engages is a powerful mechanism for leaders, teachers and mentors to assist teams of people reaching their creative potential. "Yes, And" improves idea generation and elicits positive communication among participants, every time.

Follow the Fear: It's OK to Fail

We are all afraid to fail. We hesitate to try something new, we are cautious about making a big choice because we might fail. Improv techniques embrace the philosophy that there are no mistakes, that a mistake is, in fact, a gift. Through Improv games participants learn the most fun can be had when things do not go right. Participants are discouraged from editing themselves, encouraged to react immediately, to "get out of your own head".  Improv teaches one to be open whatever the circumstances, to have courage in the face of everything.

Perfect is Boring: Embracing Imperfection

Perfectionism stunts creativity, it's boring, and an unrealistic expectation. Improv is a safe place to embrace and expect imperfection. These exercises create a safe space to let go of the need to be right, and in control. Individuals learn to accept things as they are, not how they want them to be. This is a place to let go of judgment.

In the Now: Mindfulness and Being Present

People don't listen. They want their turn to talk. They are not in the moment, they are not engaged.  This is a huge breakdown in the communication process. Improv is a place to practice active listening, reacting in the moment, because everything in improv is spontaneous and happens in the moment.

Brain Yoga: Cognitive Flexibility, Neuroplasticity and Memory

Improv exercises our brain. By practicing new ways of communicating we can change our neural pathways, and create real change in the way we interact and communicate with others. It is this exact reason that Improv is useful in strengthening the brains for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's patients.

Repeal Inhibition: Openness and Playfulness

Getting out of our comfort zone is scary. In improv we put ourselves out there with a group of people taking the exact same risk. Play is vital for happiness and adults often find this is the first thing that is sacrificed in the name of anything else. Creating a time a space for play and creativity is guaranteed to help you be goofy and happy.

United States of Mind: Closing Cultural and Language Gaps

Viola inspires here too. The Hull House was created for immigrants who came to Chicago and could not communicate well with each other. The exercises they played were designed so they could play together even though they spoke different languages. These exercises are about physicality. Other ways of expressing ourselves that are universal.

Working It Out: Improv For Cubicle Diseases

Confrontation and conflict are some of the most difficult situations for humans to handle. It can destroy a team, shut down a relationship, and break a workplace or classroom.

Improv can help rebuild trust because it's practicing the skills that great teams need.

Cop To It: Crises Intervention Training

Listening, empathy, validation are the pillars of crisis intervention, and the fundamentals of improvisation.

Invite us to work with your group, class, department or institution.

 

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