Lives In Progress

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct." Carl Jung


Applied Improvisation games are a form of brain training and social-emotional skill development that are increasingly used in training, therapy and classrooms. "Improv enthusiasts rave about its educational value," writes Linda Flanagan in "How Improv Can Open Up The Mind In The Classroom and Beyond" on Mindshift. According to BostonImprov National Touring Company director Deanna Criess, who is quoted in the article, improvisation "not only hones communication and public speaking skills, it also stimulates fast thinking and engagement with ideas. On a deeper level, improv chips away at mental barriers that block creative thinking — that internal editor who crosses out every word before it appears on a page — and rewards spontaneous, intuitive responses. Because improv depends on the group providing categorical support for every answer, participants also…

"The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of them." Linus Pauling

What Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques and Applied Improvisation have in common: Here and now focusCollaborativeGoal-oriented or Problem-focused – what is it I am trying to do and what thinking gets in the way? What beliefs are guiding that thinking?Aims to empower the client or student through skill development in cognitive agility, reality testing and shifting gearsTo change our thinking from the negative to the positive requires effort and practice. Self-protective, defensive mental habits are easily formed by stressful events and triggered by perceived threats, even when the threats are coming from our own thoughts - when the call is coming from inside the house. Defensive, negative thoughts narrow the field of attention, while positive, creative thoughts expand it.

Cognitive-behavioral techniques exploit the brain's ability to form and rely on patterns by redirecting attention and mental activity …