Partners in Performance: Counseling and Theatre Departments Collaborate

During the spring 2012 semester, 16 students counseling students and 15 theatre students participated in a joint project for the CNS 765: Addictions Counseling  course, taught by Philip Clarke. The counseling students practiced using addictions counseling interventions in a role play with a partner from the theatre department who portrayed the role of a person struggling with addiction issues. The acting students prepared their roles with the help of theatre professor, Sharon Andrews. At the wrap-up dinner, counseling students described the collaboration as a unique practice opportunity due to the skill of their acting partners. Theatre students noted the experience was a great exercise in both character development and improvisation.