The current state of the world is uncertain, leaving many with feelings of anxiety and few options for an outlet to practice managing these emotions.

There is no script in improv.

Improv principles include following fears, embracing the unknown, supporting one another, allowing ourselves to receive support, learning to manage stress at the moment. Embracing imperfection. Letting go of control.

Improv is…

• Games and exercises that help teach us to function in uncertainty. The same techniques that help us get out of our comfort zone in improv can help us manage our anxiety about the world around us.
• Play that is vital for happiness and often the first thing sacrificed in the name of anything else. Creating a time and space for play and creativity is an investment in our mental health.
• A safe space that provides a low stakes environment to explore new ways of responding and letting go of old defense mechanisms
• A fun way to practice Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Just like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) that participants learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions and, instead, accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward in their lives.

Applying improvisation to real-life situations is a quick way to improve our tolerance of accepting life on life’s terms. The exercises improve our confidence to interact in a world that has always been uncertain.

Please note that for best results these are closed groups, requiring an eight-week commitment. This is not a drop-in group as benefits result from regular attendance.