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clinical work doesn’t come with a script
Our training can offer us a lot — deep theory, evidence-based interventions, opportunities to support real people in real pain. And while clinical and community experience can help us figure out what approaches work, what's going to hold up in a session, and sometimes what's most likely to get reimbursed, it doesn't always teach us some of the most important stuff: how to track yourself in real time, how to move away from overthinking and get unstuck, how to stay flexible inside a framework that rewards having the right answer.
Which means a lot of us end up in session doing the work we were trained to do, and also quietly white-knuckling through the parts we weren't.
This workshop is about trusting that you already have what it takes, and practicing the trust-fall somewhere low-stakes and a little silly, with other people who get it.
who this is for
therapists, counselors, social workers, nurses, doulas, teachers, healers, and caregivers who are good at their jobs and want to be even better
clinicians and helpers who catch themselves mentally flipping through a treatment manual, when they really just need to be present
helpers whose self-monitoring doesn't clock out when the session ends
people who are a little burnt out, a little stiff, and craving something looser, and anyone curious about what play actually has to do with good clinical work
what we’ll do together
Super low-stakes improv exercises adapted specifically for helper culture. We’ll practice playing with uncertainty, staying present during chaos, and recovering from the inevitable imperfections. This workshop centers fun, but there is no pressure to be funny or make others laugh.
✦ Letting go of needing the “right” move at the “right” time
✦ Practicing staying with not‑knowing (turns out our profs were right about ~tolerating ambiguity~)
✦ Responding in the here-and-now instead of planning
✦ Noticing what your body does when things don’t go to plan
✦ Experimenting with play while honoring the experiences of those you’re joining
Some focus areas:
why improv for helpers?
it’s right there in our title — most of us have been trained & rewarded for helping, which can often look like doing, fixing, changing, etc. Sometimes we just need to be with people, but not a lot of training supports that!
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we can slow things down, lower the stakes, and work in community, so we can tap into there here-and-now without it being life-or-death.
✻✻improv gives you a low-stakes place to practice sitting in the discomfort of not doing, with other helpers, who want to learn, and are open to experimentation.
what you might leave with
✻
a little more access to yourself inside the work
✻permission to slow waaaaaaay the heck down
✻more tolerance for uncertainty and real‑time responding
✻some lightness and camaraderie — because helpers need that too!
the details
This is a live workshop; due to the highly interactive and vulnerable nature of the group, a recording will not be offered. The workshop is 4 hours and includes 40 minutes of break time.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
when
10:30am - 2:30pm Pacific
live virtual Zoom workshop
format
no experience required
experience required?
You’re welcome to move, stim, and take breaks as needed. Captions are available via Zoom. Use of chat and emojis welcome. Cross-talk expected!
accessibility
investment
sliding scale pricing
This cohort uses a sliding scale based on financial access.
Choose the price that reflects your current capacity. If you can pay more, it helps sustain the work and makes space for those who need the lower tier.
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A lower-cost option for those who cannot afford the next tier and do not face the same barriers as those needing a scholarship slot.
Consider this option if you:
✓ can cover basic needs but have little financial flexibility
✓ are a gig/service worker, have sporadic income, or face barriers that impact your earning capacity
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The cost of this service in the absence of a sliding scale.
For those with stable income who can cover needs + occasional wants, but aren't flush with extra cash.
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For those with more financial stability, examples of which are:
✓ regular income✓ some savings
✓ employer benefits
✓ family support
If you work for an agency or an org, this is you!
If you are not the sole income in your household, this might be you!
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This ticket funds a scholarship slot.
For those who may:
✓ own property
✓ own a car
✓ have traveled recently
✓ carry financial privilege (including from whiteness)
✓ want to practice redistribution
BIPOC scholarship slots
Limited scholarship slots are available for those struggling with access to basic needs (housing, food, childcare, etc.) due to systemic barriers such as:
Age, disability, immigration status, or incarceration history
Choosing between survival items (food vs medicine, etc.)
Family history of enslavement or forced displacement.
If you are interested in being added to the scholarship waitlist, please fill out this interest form, and I will reach out as slots get funded.
payment plans
Full payment or a 50% deposit is due in full at the time of registration.
Payment plans may be available through Klarna and Affirm at checkout — options vary based on individual approval.
cancellations & refunds
Cancellations for any reason are accepted up to 14 days before the cohort start date. Refunds will be issued minus payment processing fees, which range from 3-6% depending on your payment method. These fees are paid to our payment processor (Stripe, Klarna, or Affirm) at the time of purchase and are non-refundable.
No refunds will be issued once we are within 14 days of the cohort start date or once the cohort has begun.
If you have questions about payment or need to discuss your registration, please contact me via email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and register.
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That’s a strong reaction and I wonder what specifically it brings up! Fear of failure? Anticipation of embarrassment? Worry about being perceived?
If you said yes to any of the above, the good news is that this workshop was actually made for YOU. -
the bad news: you may in fact feel scared.
the good news: you are not in any immediate danger and are not dying (well, I mean, we’re all dying, but you know what i mean).Being scared of being vulnerable or letting your guard down in front of others MAKES SENSE to me! And it can be such helpful information about where your growth edges are!
The goal is never to push people past their window of tolerance, but juuuuuusssst outside their comfort zone.
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that’s okay! i hope folks come into the workshop willing to say YES to most opportunities, and also understand everybody’s tolerance levels will be different!
early on in the workshop i give folks some options if they decide they do want to opt out, and also ask folks what might feel good for them if this happens.
we can get as creative as we want:
you can say ‘pass’ and then maybe go the next round
you can ask for a moment to take a breath; or ask others to join you in taking a breath together!
you can ask for the prompt again, or even a different one!
you can ask me or a fellow member to run through another example
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only sometimes, and usually only for the warm-ups that involve the whole group. I’d say these activities are less performance-based and more introductory or establishing exercises.
depending on the size of the workshop, folks may be split into breakout rooms, which could give folks the chance to work in smaller groups.
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3 hours, which is inclusive of a break (or two shorter breaks) and time for reflection and debriefing at the end.
folks are asked to arrive on-time and stay throughout as they are able, as missing the introductions might make it more difficult to get involved.
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Be honest about your current financial reality. If you can afford a higher tier and choose a lower one, you're taking a spot from someone who genuinely needs that access. The model only works if we're all truthful about our resources.
payment & cancellation policies
sliding scale pricing
This workshop uses a sliding scale based on financial access. Choose the price that reflects your current capacity. If you can pay more, it helps sustain the work and makes space for those who need the lower tier.
Limited scholarship slots are available for those struggling with access to basic needs (housing, food, childcare, etc.) due to systemic barriers. If you are interested in being added to the scholarship waitlist, please fill out this interest form, and I will reach out as slots get funded.
payment plans
Payment is due in full at the time of registration.
Payment plans may be available through Klarna and Affirm at checkout — options vary based on individual approval.
cancellations & refunds
Cancellations for any reason are accepted up to 14 days before the cohort start date. Refunds will be issued minus payment processing fees, which range from 3-6% depending on your payment method. These fees are paid to a payment processor (Stripe, Klarna, or Affirm) at the time of purchase and are non-refundable.
No refunds will be issued once we are within 14 days of the cohort start date or once the cohort has begun.
If you have questions about payment or need to discuss your registration, please contact me via email.
