Improv for Parkinson’s: Laughter, Learning, and Real Benefits

If you’ve ever smiled through a silly improv game and felt lighter afterward, you’ve already experienced a small version of what improvisational theatre can do for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Improv isn’t just fun—it’s a therapeutic tool that helps with communication, cognitive flexibility, mood, and social connection. In Naples, Florida, the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida (PASWFL) is among a small number of community groups offering regular improv for PD—led by Margot Escott, LCSW, who has trained with top improv teachers and used applied improvisational theatre (AIT) in clinical settings for 15 years. PASWFL offers these classes for free on Saturdays via Zoom, making this creative therapy accessible to people across Southwest Florida and beyond.

Improvisational programs for Parkinson’s
These applied improvisational programs are rooted in the idea that play, spontaneity, and social interaction stimulate the brain in unique ways. Several pilot studies and program evaluations suggest real benefits: a notable program run with The Second City showed that improv classes were enjoyable, well-attended, and improved activities of daily living measures in people with PD. (PubMed, ScienceDirect) Other research and pilot trials using theater-based interventions and applied improv report improvements in mood, communication, and psychological well-being for participants across ages and disease severity. (Semantic Scholar, ResearchGate)

How does improv help?
Games and exercises used in AIT encourage quick decision-making, turn-taking, vocal projection, and expressive facial movement—skills that can be affected by PD. The mild challenge and safe “risk” of improv can boost confidence and once-dormant social muscles; laughter and novelty also trigger positive neurochemical responses, which participants and facilitators report as energizing. A bigger, recent push in the literature looks at arts-based interventions (music, dance, theater) for PD and finds promising improvements in motor and non-motor symptoms when programs are consistent and targeted. (PMC, ScienceDirect)

A Rare and Unique Opportunity in Naples Florida
Margot Escott, LCSW, developed Improv for PD programs based on over 40 years of training and experience as a practicing LCSW, and training with national AIT teachers.  Margot leads therapeutic improv groups for diverse clinical populations and has used improv with people living with PD for many years in both in-person and online formats. Her approach adapts exercises so participants of any mobility level can join—seated or standing—and includes caregivers. You’ll find the class both accessible and heartening: members report reduced stress, increased voice confidence, and better social connection after consistent practice. (Psychology Today, Parkinson's Association of SWFL)

It's easy and there is no charge to join in an Improv for PD class through the PASWFL
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​If you live in Naples—or you want a Zoom class on a Saturday that centers on play, voice, and connection--PASWFL’s Improv for Parkinson’s could be an inviting next step. It’s free to members, offered weekly, and designed to meet people where they are while building skills that matter both onstage and off.

Want to try it?
The PASWFL offers free improv classes on Saturdays via Zoom to members. Visit the PASWFL website to register and learn more about the program and other free classes that support living well with Parkinson’s.

Why Support Matters
A diagnosis of any form of Parkinson’s can feel overwhelming. But with the right support and resources, individuals can maintain independence, quality of life, and emotional well-being.
For resources, referrals, and support in navigating Parkinson’s and related conditions, contact the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida at www.paswfl.org or call 239-417-3465.

For more than 25 years, PASWFL has provided free, high-quality services and programs to individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s disease in Southwest Florida. Their goal is simple: help people live well with PD, regardless of where they are in their journey.

Each week, PASWFL offers more than 25 free programs and support groups, including:

• Wellness and fitness classes
• Speech and cognitive therapy
• Educational seminars
• Support for care partners
• Support groups

There are no fees to become a member, and PASWFL welcomes anyone touched by PD.

Take the First Step Toward Living Well
If you suspect early Parkinson’s or have been recently diagnosed, you don’t have to face it alone.
👉 Click here to sign up for the PASWFL newsletter
👉 Click here to become a member (it's free!)
To learn more, visit www.paswfl.org and discover the power of support, education, and community.