Creating Brave Spaces for Teens Through Improv
- CSz Boise
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
Let’s be honest: being a teenager today is tough.
Social media, academic pressure, anxiety, and isolation are all on the rise. Teens are looking for places where they can be seen, heard, and accepted without filters or expectations.
That’s where improv comes in.
💡 Why Improv Works for Teens
Improv is more than silly games. It’s a structure that gives teens permission to:
Be silly on purpose
Fail without fear
Connect without pressure
Express emotions without judgment
It’s play, yes—but it’s also practice for being brave, vulnerable, and real.
📚 The Research Backs It Up
Studies show that improv can:
Reduce social anxiety
Increase emotional resilience
Help teens feel connected to themselves and others
A University of Michigan study found that school-based improv theater—performing without a script or preparation—may be effective for social phobias and anxiety disorders because it offers a low stigma, low cost, and more accessible context for help in reducing these symptoms. Participating in improv can enhance a student's well-being and reduce their anxiety.
We see this in our teen classes at CSz Boise. Shy teens start speaking up. Outgoing kids learn to listen better. And all of them walk away with new tools for facing the world.
🛑 Safe Space? Yes. Brave Space? Even Better.
At CSz Boise, we believe in creating brave spaces, not just safe ones.
Safe spaces are about protection. Brave spaces are about growth.
We give teens a place to try, stumble, laugh, and grow—knowing they’ll be supported the whole way through.
If you know a teen who could use a little more connection—and a lot more laughter—improv might be the perfect place to start.
Comments