E43: Improv and Mental Health: Lessons in Adaptability and Resilience with Cathy Gaitlin

Welcome to The Christina Crowe Podcast, and I’m your host, Psychotherapist Christina Crowe. I love making invisible things visible, and today I'm speaking with Cathy Gatlin, founder of Improv4Health in Toronto, ON. Cathy is an improv instructor who recently reintroduced me to the immense benefits of improv and how it can help get us out of our heads, into our bodies and actually feel comfortable doing so. 

We talk about:

• What is improv, and who can do it?
• How can improv help social anxiety?
• What Cathy noticed about therapists in improv groups,
• Listen in as Cathy & Christina do some improv, and
• How improv can improve your self-confidence and help you feel comfortable in your own skin. 

Our Guest: Cathy Gatlin is the instructor for Improv4Health. Over the last 22 years Cathy has taken classes at Second City, Bad Dog Theatre (formerly Theatresports) and most recently at the Kate Ashby Academy.  For several years Cathy was in the improv troupe “Born a Swirly” and performed throughout the city of Toronto. Cathy's passion is building community, as well as strengthening confidence in kids and adults. Cathy currently teaches improv at Toronto’s St. Joseph’s Hospital, in the inpatient child mental health unit.  Teaching at St. Joe's has helped Cathy create a strong online improv curriculum.

Find Cathy: Improv4Health | Instagram | Twitter  and check out her upcoming classes: Increase Confidence, Creativity and Connection. April 4th (Tuesdays 7:30-9 pm Adult Class) April10 (Mondays 4:30-5:30 9-16 year old class). 

Resources mentioned in the show: 

• Learn more about ADHD: The ADHD Resource Hub
• Use the discount code ‘CCPODCAST’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD, or ‘PEBBLE’ for 15% off DIY*ADHD: Couples.

Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok

A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. 

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