About Shawn and the History of Social Theatre™

Growing up going to Music, Arts, and Drama camp, I loved taking the clowning workshop every summer. It was really a great experience just being able to be free and express yourself through play with others!  Thus, it was important that those I work with have a similar opportunity of expression and human connection through fun.  Using sketch comedy role plays and improv games in group therapy sessions and school social groups, we have been able to role play skills when it feels more like fun instead of painful working through skills that are difficult.

At present, Social Theatre is utilized in group therapy, as it intertwines concepts from DBT/CBT, Social Thinking®, mindfulness, and more recently neuro-psychology, namely the Polyvagal Theory. Furthermore , the plays our groups write have been compared to Carol Gray’s Social Stories, but on stage.  With the use of Neuro-Psychology, we have also been incorporating Improvising with the Brain and the Autonomic Nervous System, as we are learning about feelings escalation, the connections of our senses, feelings, memories, bodies, and frontal lobe, as well as practicing how to de-escalate through using coping skills.   Groups are currently offered at CORE Connection Counseling in Lisle, IL but Social Theatre strategies have also been utilized in teaching college students, elementary up through students of the 18-22 age, and professionals.  Moreover, Social Theatre is also used in performing troupes, and has an available Language Arts Sketch Comedy Curriculum.

Social Theatre™ has been used in:

  • Classrooms for collaborative writing of plays, to enhance idea expression and shared idea building.
  • Clinical Setting with targeted individual goals and curriculum designed for group members
  • Afterschool Performance Groups to collaboratively write and perform about social skills and prevention issues.

Shawn’s Achievements include:

At present, I work with schools to help implement “Active Social Emotional Learning”, as I do not believe that SEL skills can be gained only from talk therapy or a worksheet.  sketch comedy improv program.

I am also a therapist at CORE Connection Counseling where the specialty is working with children through early adulthood with social deficits. Having been a private therapist for 12 years, it has been wonderful experience to branch out and be able to utilize a modality I’m passionate about. I have found that leading Social Theatre groups in a clinical setting, has been an outstanding way for small groups of kids and teens to practice their skills together.  In fact, my clients and parents tell me it does not feel like therapy!!  😀

In my multitude of experiences, I have worked in the areas of domestic violence, child welfare, and in education. In Education, I have served children of many populations, including children with learning disabilities, across the spectrum autism disorders, communication disorders, emotional and behavioral difficulties, and multi-needs.

My education includes a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from North Central College, A Masters Degree in Social Work from Jane Addams College of Social Work at UIC, and a second Masters Degree in School Administration from North Eastern Illinois University.  Since 2005, I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  Along my professional journey, I have collected many different therapy tools including Social Thinking®, Mindfulness Training, Assertiveness Training, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.