Stomping Ground Comedy Theater and Training Center

Workshop participants engaged in interactive improvisational comedy activities as instructors connected and discussed the psycho-educational and therapeutic benefits of improv for the brain. Mindfulness techniques and effects of mindfulness on the brain were taught, and each participant had an opportunity to experience and practice skills in the moment. Overall, the objective of this workshop was to show participants through fun experiential learning, lecture, and comedy activities that they have control over regulating emotional responses from their amygdala and increasing their feel good hormones and neurotransmitters in their brain. Through real time polling at the start and end of the workshops, we were able to see that participants gained new knowledge and felt improvements in their mood. The workshop was created and taught by psychotherapist, Andrea Baum, M.Ed., LPC, neurologist, Mary Quiceno, M.D., and professional comedian and Co-Founder, Lindsay Goldapp.

We were able to branch out and reach people who were new to our organization, and all participants felt immediate positive impact. Participants self-reported their mood via polls, and though some initially reported feelings of anxiety, depression, and exhaustion, all participants reported improved mood and left feeling energized, grateful, and supported. They unanimously agreed they were very likely to use the skills learned in the workshop in their daily life.

● In the future, we would like to create an information packet or PowerPoint to email to the participants after the workshop. There were some inquiries to receive the PowerPoint post workshop. ● We want to obtain more press contacts globally for press release to market the event to a wider audience. ● Not all participants who registered attended the event, even with confirmation emails and email reminders the day before event. If possible, we would like to require a small fee for registration to improve attendance. (54 free registrations, 31 participants) ● There were a few minor glitches with polling and registration through Zoom, in the future we will test polls and registrations before the start of the event.