Today we speak with Lisa Bany and Angela Nino, trained Improv directors, performers and creative professionals who teach and facilitate the use of applied Improvisation in the improvement of mental health. Their organization is called Improv Therapy Group and I am proud to have recently been added to their advisory board. Lisa and Angela are not therapists, but they work with licensed therapists and group treatment facilities to bring Improv into the mental health environment.
Lisa Bany is Improv Therapy Group’s, Chief Improv Officer. She is also an instructor, director, and coach at The Second City. She has authored numerous books, including On Stage: Theatre Games and Activities for Kids; Show Time: Music, Dance and Drama Activities for Kids; Funny Bones; and Family Fun Nights. She started teaching at The Second City in the early nineties has directed and taught throughout the Chicagoland area. A graduate of Columbia College, Lisa is a member of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. Angela Nino is a Certified Forensic Interviewer and the Chief Executive Officer for Empathic Workplace. She teaches seminars on workplace interviews, investigations, and difficult conversations. Angela is a graduate of The Second City improv training program. We encourage those that wish to learn more about our mission and services to visit these links:
- EmpathicWorkplace.com
- Improvtherapygroup.com
- Angela Nino Video: Empathy Cocktail at HR Disrupt
You might want to listen to my fascinating discussions with the amazing Nathan Keats and Beth Boynton.