We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Kyprianou Baum, M.Ed., LPC and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, what keeps you busy professionally?
As a psychotherapist, I started out in private practice and my days were filled back to back with talk therapy clients. I kept gravitating towards creative forms of therapy that didn’t fit the typical box of talk therapy. I have always loved helping people but I also have a creative side to me that I needed to be using and it felt untapped. In 2017, when we started Stomping Ground and Improv for Life, I started using improv to help people and everything felt like it came together. I have been so passionate, fulfilled, and rewarded with the work that I have been doing. When you feel like that, it opens up motivation, ambition, and creativity on another level. I have been able to create unique workshops and classes that are fun, interactive, therapeutic, and educational.m Improv for Life at Stomping Ground has the following workshops and classes: Improv for Caregivers of Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Improv for Dementia, Improv for Autism, Improv for Anxiety, Improv for All Abilities, Improv for Physicians and Health Care Professionals, Improv for Body Image, and Improv for Therapists. Stomping Ground is a non-profit organization, and we have been awarded grants and funding to provide low-cost and free classes and shows. As of Summer of 2020, Improv for Caregivers of Alzheimer’s/Dementia workshops are completely free to the Dallas community! Special thanks to The AWARE Fund of The Dallas Foundation for making this possible! We also have Pay What You Can Comedy Summer Camps for kids and teens this summer! A huge thank you to our donors and Dallas City of Learning for funding summer fun for kids and teens!

Is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I would say that the single most important factor behind the success of this programming is that the needs of the individuals are understood on a deep level. Experiences are created to encourage learning and a-ha moments based on the unique needs of our students. I pull from my experience and knowledge in psychotherapy and work with highly trained improvisers to create Improv for Life programs. Our programs are always changing as we improvise in the moment to meet the needs of our groups.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A lot of the success that I have had with Improv for Life is thanks to my career soulmate, Lindsay Goldapp. Lindsay is also the co-founder of Stomping Ground Comedy Theater. We usually teach many of the workshops and classes together and she has illuminated them to life with her energy and ability to captivate the room. She has a gift of putting people at ease when teaching improv and she somehow gets everyone to courageously participate, let go, and have a lot of fun. I have learned a lot from her and she has given me a lot of confidence in leading workshops. Thank you Lindsay! If you are reading this, call me–I’m sure I need to talk to you about something.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ooooo! I like this question. I love the Dallas Design District, there is so much to do there. First, I would take them to Ascension for an iced coffee and breakfast. We’d for sure check out the Dallas Contemporary after, they always have very cool exhibits. Then we’d go to Lula B’s Antique Mall and look at all the fun stuff there, try on clothes, and sit on all the old furniture. Then I’d take them to my favorite restaurant just down the street, The Charles. Lastly, of course, we would have to go to Stomping Ground Comedy Theater and watch a couple comedy shows!

Website: stompinggroundcomedy.org
Instagram: @stompinggroundcomedy
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-baum-m-ed-lpc-402b4115
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StompingGComedy

Image Credits
Angela Ross Jacie Hood Brice Baum