Improv for Anxiety with Paul Cross
Let go. Laugh. Rewire your nervous system.
Improv for Anxiety isn’t about performing — it’s about playing.
This is a safe, supportive space where people with social or general anxiety can reconnect with humor, presence, and self-compassion, all while learning the art of improvisation.
At the heart of improv is the principle of “Yes, and…”—a practice of openness, acceptance, and curiosity. Instead of spinning anxious “doom and gloom” scenarios, improv invites us to explore possibilities, embrace joy, and even see mistakes as discoveries. It helps us quiet the restless monkey mind and return to a calmer, more easeful way of being.
In Paul’s Improv for Anxiety classes, you’ll experience:
- Simple, playful improv exercises — no acting or comedy experience required
- A pressure-free environment — no need to be clever or “good,” just human
- A supportive community of like-minded folks who understand anxiety
- Embodied tools for self-regulation — breathwork, relaxation techniques, and somatic awareness practices to help calm the nervous system
- New ways to respond to life with resilience, presence, and humor instead of reactivity
Rooted in mindfulness, Zen, Taoism, Morita Therapy, and somatic experiencing, Paul’s approach blends ancient wisdom with the creative joy of improvisation. These practices strengthen your ability to:
- Let go of self-judgment and perfectionism
- Stretch your tolerance for discomfort
- Find calm through awareness of body and breath
- Take yourself (and life) a little less seriously
As Zen master Hakuin Ekaku wrote:
“The monkey is reaching for the moon in the water…
If he’d let go the branch and disappear in the deep pool,
The whole world would shine with dazzling pureness.”
Letting go is the work. And the fun.
About Paul Cross
Paul has been performing improv since 1998, with training from Chicago’s legendary Second City, iO Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. He performed with the Del Award-winning team Fox Force Five at iO and has been teaching improv since 2005.
He has led Improv for Anxiety and Improv for PTSD workshops with veterans at Solara Health, bringing a trauma-informed and compassionate approach to his teaching. Paul’s background includes:
- BA in Theater Education
- Certifications in Drama Therapy Fundamentals, Somatic Therapy for Trauma, and Therapeutic Improvisation
- Studies in breathwork at Vedanta Spiritual & Holistic Retreat, 1 on 1 with Depak Swarup
- Somatic Experiencing course with Dr. Alice Kerby, DPT, SEP (Somatic Experiencing Practitioner)
Paul believes improv holds a funhouse mirror to the world — and that when we laugh at ourselves and each other, we grow more compassionate, grounded, free, and most importantly, feel less anxiety.
Paul is not a licensed therapist; he has completed a masters level course in group counseling. While these sessions are not a substitute for therapy, improv inherently provides therapeutic benefits.
Come play. Come breathe. Come be.
No pressure. No spotlight. Just shared laughter, presence, and gentle self-discovery — one moment at a time.
