Improv for anxiety
The Improv for Anxiety program is designed to help people with mild to moderate anxiety build awareness and skills which help to manage their symptoms in work, home, and social situations. The class is co-led by an improv teacher and a therapist. The program was developed by Unscripted improvisers and teachers in partnership with licensed therapists to practice improv through a therapeutic lens. This class is not therapy and should not replace therapy, but provides an interactive and joyful opportunity to practice applying skills for anxiety management and awareness.
No improv experience or clinical diagnosis for anxiety required to participate. Each class will focus on a theme relevant to managing anxiety through improv principles and play. Participants must be 18 and over. Registration is non-refundable, and we encourage all participants to attend at least 5/6 sessions for the best experience. Financial assistance is available. See below for instructor bios and FAQs!
This six-week class is offered both in person and online. In person classes meet at various accessible locations in Nashville. The online classes meet through Zoom.
Can’t make this session? Sign up on our waitlist to hear about the next class.
We offer both online and in person classes for this program.
Meet the facilitators for Improv for Anxiety
Sarah Rodgers
Sarah Rodgers (she/her) is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist and Registered Drama Therapist, with a background as a trained actor. She loves playing and believes playfulness is a sign of health. While she has been described as having a "big personality", Sarah truly enjoys connecting with people and taking risks together in a creative space. Sarah has been a theater teaching artist, co-founded a NYC theater company, and worked in high school and community mental health settings. Sarah runs two psychotherapy practices here in Nashville, Creative Counseling Nashville and Experience Therapy Group, that focus on integrating the body and expressive arts into psychotherapy, is a clinical supervisor, leads workshops and trainings, and generally loves contributing to the space where therapy and theater intersect.
Sarah Shannon
Sarah Shannon (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has a private practice in Nashville where she works with individuals and couples. Sarah enjoys helping her clients take control of their life narrative in creative ways.
Elizabeth Baum
Elizabeth Baum (she/her) is a graduate of Northwestern University's Counseling@Northwestern program and has her Bachelor's degree in Theatre with an emphasis in Acting from MTSU. She's excited to be a part of the Improv for Anxiety team because it feels like the perfect crossroads of two of her favorite things -- the creative arts and mental health. She's performed with theatre companies all over Nashville including Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Street Theatre Company, Actors Bridge, and many others. She is a full-time pre-licensed therapist at Experience Therapy Group where she frequently uses improv skills in counseling. Her biggest inspirations are her cats, Professor Chaos and Lady Bug, because they remind her to get out of her head and stay in the moment and also that there is never a bad time or place for a nap.
Lily Catalano
Lily LaBour Catalano (she/her) loved improv games in middle school and finds they're just as much fun as an adult! Lily has a Master of Social Work degree, and she works with clients to address life challenges and find wellbeing. Lily thinks that a little mindfulness helps everything, and laughing is probably not a bad idea, either.
Cindy Kilton
Cindy Kilton (she/her) is a pre-licensed therapist at Experience Therapy Group. She believes curiosity and play are essential to learning and living—and that adults need more play in our lives! Participating in Improv for Anxiety has helped Cindy become a more self-compassionate human who is okay with making mistakes. She is excited to share this transformative experience with others as a therapeutic facilitator.
Megan Barbee
Megan (she/her) found her passion for mental health while doing mental health awareness/ advocacy work in college while pursuing a dance degree.
As a lifelong dancer and creative, Megan has seen firsthand how integral the arts, our bodies, and social connection are to our healing process. Combining her dance background with her graduate training in Play/Expressive Arts therapy and her continuing education in somatic therapies, she believes that play and the arts are an integral part of healing our bodies from trauma. She also believes that our emotions and narratives live in our body, teaching her clients while learning herself how to listen for our cues and emotions, and care for ourselves holistically.
FAQs
What will each class cover?
Week 1: Yes and Listening/Being Present!
Week 2: Get Out Of Your Head
Week 3: Mistakes are a gift
Week 4: Understanding The Inner Critic
Week 5: Trust
Week 6: Play + Celebration
What does a typical class look like?
Starts with a Check-in circle - Name Game (every time!) - Games that focus on the week’s theme (see outline)-Reflection(throughout) - Free Play - Compliment Circle Closing
who will be in the class?
Class size is limited to 16 people in person, 12 online. Two instructors leading the class. Other “instructor” types may participate, but no one will be “watching”. Everyone in the room participates, you won’t be “observed”.
What is different about this class from a regular improv class?
Each class focuses on ideas from improv which can help you learn to manage anxiety symptoms. We take time to talk through your process, reaction, reflection, and general thoughts. The class is open, encouraging, and designed to move at the right pace for each person to feel supported.
What are the clinical elements to the class?
The class is not therapy, but the therapeutic facilitator is a trained mental health professional, and the class is designed to be therapeutic. Facilitators will administer short, validated measurement tools (self-reported pre and post assessments) for participants to complete before and after the 6 weeks.