Research shows that improv promotes confidence and self-esteem while decreasing social anxiety. This workshop is for children 8-12 years old who experience anxiety or worried/negative thoughts from time to time. Children will learn easy and effective techniques to relieve anxiety and reframe thinking in a fun and interactive group environment. Students will get to learn Improvisational Comedy and Therapeutic games while processing how to apply these tools in real life. They will be learning while having fun! This portion of the class is taught by Andrea K. Baum, a psychotherapist trained in improvisational comedy, and will be assisted by improv instructor and Stomping Ground Founder, Lindsay Goldapp.
In addition to Improv games, Moose the Worry Mutt, a children’s book to help with anxiety and negative thinking will be read. Afterward, Psychologist and Author, Jaime Crowley, will teach about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and children will have the opportunity to role-play how to reframe their thinking in order to alleviate anxiety. As a group, the children will have the opportunity to gain support from another and relate to similar worried thoughts.