UNIVERSITY TRAINING
Awakening Creativity
Creating Resilient Students In An Uncertain World
CU Boulder
Theather & Dance
Michigan State
Acting Departments
Hartt School
Acting and Musical Theater
Naropa University
Somatic Psychology Department
"We were told to “leave your sh*t at the door” and “this is a safe place to try anything” however no one was talking about safety or how to do that without feeling exposed and depleted"
The unsaid contract between a student and a performing arts school is that the school will provide all the necessary tools to become a great performer.
However every student has a different background, and unique set of needs to show up and learn the craft and perform. For students to produce creativity they also need to develop the skills that allow them to find emotional safety and refill their creative vessel.
Develop More Resilient StudentsOf college dance students reported a mental health issue as their most severe health problem
Of students sought help for their condition...
How do students navigate the emotional life of a creative artist?
Taking Creative Risk
Igniting the Subconscious
Rediscovering Imagination
Collaborating with Your Creativity Ensemble
“If uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness, and creativity.” —Eckhart Tolle
Mari
Mari Reisberg, LPC is a therapist, coach, performer, podcast host of the Sustaining Creativity Podcast. For the past 15 years Mari has been leading workshops for Univeristies and students teaching and working with decision makers helping them learn how to create safely.
Mari herself holds a BFA in Acting and an MA in Somatic Counseling Psychology, Dance/Movement Therapy, from Naropa University. She has worked with performers and non-performers to spark, grow, sustain and transform creativity in their lives.
She creates workshops and trainings that allow creative students and faculty to dig deep in their emotional life and experience in a supported and sustainable way creating resilient artists.
Getting the students and faculty into harmony
Part One - Faculty
In-Person or Live Online Workshops to help faculty develop emotional awareness of today’s students and the tools and skills to address your student body’s mental health needs in a creative setting. The following pieces will be covered through experiential learning, readings and practice.
Understanding the Window of Tolerance
The zone of stimulation in which a person is able to function most effectively
Effective Communication
Mindful Listening, Understanding non-verbal communication, emotional awareness and management, and validation
Distress Tolerance Skills
These are skills to support everyone to effectively manage their responses to challenging situation, or heightened emotional situations
Faculty Resources
Who to reach out to for your own support in emotionally charged situations.
Psychological Safety
How to create a psychologically safe learning environment
“I was concerned that the information would become part of a permanent record that could be viewed negatively. I still feel that there is a lot of stigma and the benefits of disclosing do not outweigh the risks.” - Survey Respondent
Part Two - Students
Is an online training program for students. This is a 21 day creativity bootcamp that takes students through several areas that will better prepare them to navigate and sustain a career in the performing arts. They will learn through videos, audio recordings, readings, writing and experiential exercises how to develop emotional resilience and sustain creativity long past their university training. As educators it is our job to provide students with the necessary tools to successfully sustain creativity in the performing arts.
Format of the Online
21 Day Creativity BootCamp
All the stuff you need to develop a resilient and creative mind.
Book a Call with Mari to Learn MoreEducational Teachings
Weekly videos covering topics such as somatic safety, creativity, mindfulness and applying creativity to students daily life.
Q & A Calls
Students can get answers to burning questions about creativity and share success and struggles with fellow artists on weekly calls.
Daily Pages Questions
These are prompts to help students connect with their subconscious mind and bring new insights to their conscious mind and into their real life.
Accountability Exercises
Students can start creating their supportive community. Share with the community or accountability partner on a weekly basis to practice applying creativity skills and get personal feedback.
Guided Mindfulness and Creativity Recording Prompts
Guided meditation recordings to help students develop a deeper understanding of their own creative process, emotional resilience steady focus.
Connection with Essential Resource
University and Skillfulmeans resource collaboration to make sure the staff is prepared to support student in body, mind spirit and profession.
SkillfulMeans offers digital
workshops and live university trainings and retreats
We teach the following skills in our digital workshops and live trainings. Each of our trainings is customizable according to your needs.
- Participants will gain scientific and experiential knowledge about creativity, emotional safety and trust in their coping skills.
- Develop a healthy relationship with, one self, fellow performers and the environment (audience).
- Students and teachers will learn skills to develop a foundation of emotional safety and stable environment for creativity and performance.
- As a team performers will begin to understand how to work with, emotions, vulnerability, creative blocks and professional relationships.
- They will continue to cultivate sustainability of their creativity and craft.
"I brought Marika into work with graduate and undergraduate actors at Michigan State University for a residency. Her work in the classroom was truly remarkable and students responded so well to her thoughtful approach to physical work. Marika's unique background makes her a unique commodity in the actor training as her understanding of the craft of acting in conjunction with her complete understanding of the physical clues the body holds are unmatched. I was also so thrilled by her willingness
to work so compassionately with actors and addressing their individual journeys to physical and acting freedom.” - Rob Roznowski, Associate Professor, Head of Acting & Directing Department of Theatre, Michigan State University"
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRING SKILLFULMEANS INTO YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Book a call with Mari to create more resilient students at your university.