Improv for Mental Fitness

Researchers at the University of Michigan and Stony Brook University report that 20 minutes of improv practice increases confidence and tolerance of uncertainty. When we think about all the ways resistance presents itself, the major obstacles for most of us can be dismantled by bravely pushing into the unknown, and at growURpotential, we help our clients push.

Elizabeth Lanier (she/her/Liz) is native to SoCal and identifies as a Blackapino (Black & Filipino) actress, comedian, writer, and improviser who performs and teaches performance in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Orange County. Liz is also a social justice warrior, youth activist, and has been a coalition collaborator with growURpotential’s founder, Meisha Thrasher, since 2018.

In 2022, Liz launched lizlaniercomedy.com to share Improv Facilitation & Coaching with the world. Here is what Liz thinks about the mental health benefits of improv performance:

As trauma solutions become more BODY focused, it is essential that we make the science of play therapy more understandable in our communities. We can start with group discussions about the ways The Body Keeps the Score and why Somatic Care is the best path to healing trauma. We support justice-organized practice spaces, and we are happy to be a collaborator with amazing facilitators.

We invite growURpotential members to experience improv guidance from Liz at our monthly offering. As well, there are several motivated spaces that invite improv exploration by new participants like The Radical Agreement Project founded by Terry Withers, an improv teacher and performer at New York City’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre. This justice organizer offers online improv experiences every day at 4 PM ET for $10 a month. Feel welcome to try the opportunity at no cost for your first meeting.

Also of justice and liberation, The Improv Therapy Group is sharing wisdom and opportunity with the masses. Under RESOURCES, many videos and blog articles support client and therapist understanding of somatic or BODY-based wellbeing.