A
Utilization of Improv Principles to facilitate improved collaboration in an environment of trust with improved communication while dealing with uncomfortable and stressful incidents. Improve Feedback when dealing with dynamic incidents which often lack “grasping” as well as active listening.
B
Improv is about honing your listening skills to respond to your partner’s words or actions and then making them look good. We are to use our partner’s and co-responders energy and build upon what they are saying/doing.
C
We all Fail! Why do we often take it so badly? Improve the ability to gain closure from “that bad call” by using a system of care with Improv Principles to enhance our ability to deal with stress. Use the Yes’ and principle to understand how to Fail gracefully and reduce your need for being in Control. Share your Story - and recognize our shared experiences - through playback theater.
We will provide workshops and classes to help improve communication, connections, simulations, acceptance, grasping, being present, listening, mindfulness, humor, joy and more.
Being Present and working collaboratively within the system of care we can experience safer and improved outcomes in patient care as well as responder wellness.
OBJECTIVE:
Utilization of the Improv Principles to facilitate better collaboration in an environment of trust with improved communication while dealing with stressful incidents.
Improving our ability to gain closure with progress toward improved mental health, among health care professionals by using the system of care with Improv Principles to enhance our ability to deal with stress.
Reduction in stress by utilizing applied cognitive psychological principles.
Improve Feedback and the patient Handoff when dealing with dynamic incidents which often lack “grasping” as well as active listening when stress levels are heightened.
HOW:
Dr. Allen Cornelius, a psychology professor at University of the Rockies, discovered distinct parallels between standup comedians and therapists.
Dr. Cornelius identified ten counseling traits that mimic improv skills.
Giving instructions. Both therapists and improv comedians direct their sessions or performances from the very beginning. They explain to the client or audience why they are there and what they should expect.
Getting to know one another. Just as an improv comedian connects with other performers and warms up the audience, a therapist creates a common ground and establishes a comfort level with clients.
Having a keen awareness of nonverbals. Body language provides insights into a person’s attitude and state of mind. Therapists utilize it to assess their clients. Improv comedians accentuate body posture, gestures, and facial expressions to engage their audience.
Paying attention to the group. Humans send and interpret messages nonverbally and verbally. Critical exchanges of information and interactions among members of the group drive sessions and performances.
Listening. Effective listening is a communication process. Therapists and improv artists decipher meaning and evaluate messages to become active participants. Listeners are actively working while their clients or people in the audience are speaking.
Adapting. There is a rhythm to therapy sessions and improv performances. Whether it is a topic change or a mood swing, improv comedians adapt quickly to shifts in scene. Similarly, therapists must adapt to changes in behavior during therapy sessions.
Focusing on details. Just as improv comedians need to pick up on the little things that have big potential for a laugh, therapists need to focus in on important details that may produce a breakthrough.
Being empathic. The capability to share and understand another person’s emotions and feelings are at the core of both therapy and improv.
Putting it all together. Synergy happens. In improv and therapy, the combined impact of the above eight tactics and skills is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
Reinforcing what was learned. Regardless of whether it is a therapy session or a comedy act, both therapists and improv comedians strive to make their clients and audiences feel better as a result of the experience.