Improv as Therapy

[mike short]

I figure we all have strong opinions about this, and I don't want to detract from the other thread too much. Here's some off-the-cuff ideas rolling around my head, feel free to share yours.

I doubt anyone believes that improv is actually Therapy with a capital T. Anyone with a healthy attitude, that is. Yes, I can list ways in which it has positively affected my life and ability to interact with people. However, I think that makes Improv therapeutic, not Therapy. It's just that we accidentally say "improv is therapy" without really meaning it. So when we accidentally say it, we really don't need to make a big deal out fo it. We know what we wanted to say.

And while I see its therapeutic powers and think it's a rather valid reason to start taking classes, I would still not want to play with those people very much. And I'm going to guess that the theaters are teaching improv as a theatrical tool, both unto itself and for other creative work. At no point is any theater attempting to provide Therapy.

Although that makes me wonder if there's a way to frame classes specifically for that purpose. It would make sense to me if every student in such a class knew upfront that they were getting into it for that reason. Some enterprising and skilled group therapist could probably make a lot of money doing that. Which I guess brings me back around to the Improv & Economics thread.

 

[Rocco]

Improv therapy has been around for a long time. Roleplay, group imaginings, discussing fantasies, etc. I suppose "long form" improv or scenic improv as we practice it hasn't.

As far as making money, you wouldn't have much credibility without also being a trained therapist.

 

[mike short]

Oh, definitely. By no means would I or any other average improvisor be qualified to such an undertaking. I'm just thinking out loud.

 

[mikelibrarian]

I met an occupational therapist this weekend who works with special education students who is taking improv classes so she can incorporate improv into her therapy sessions.

 

[Amie? Amie!]

I'm a trained psychotherapist and would love to combine my love and passion for not making money as a therapist with my love and passion for not making money as an impoviser.

 

[Holmes]

Improv for an audience = therapeutic for those involved

Improv done in a professional therapy situation by a psychologist or teacher or doctor or art therapy grad student or something along those lines for the clinical, healing therapy of the people involved (along the lines of having agoraphobics imagine themselves on a tall bridge or children painting self-portraits that indicates mood and feelings by the colors used) and not as entertainment = therapy

 

[h0h0h0]

Many Therapists have used Psychodrama, a form of acting out a familial or traumatic situations, as therapy. There's a lot of benefit to that.

I know that Rachel Hamilton did teach an Improv Therapy class, though i'm not sure it was of the ilk you are speaking of.

 

[Lisa P]

Studying improv did a lot for me coming out of a verbally abusive marriage. In improv, every choice I made was right. My scene partners always supported everything I said; the answer was always yes, and I got to build on that and create something wonderful. I credit improv for healing me way sooner than if I had never discovered it.