Leaving Time in Germany — What a Ten-Day Improv Festival Taught Me About Trust, Language, and Play

Written by Wang Chia-Chi, psychologist & improviser.  

Let’s connect → tomoewcc@gmail.com | Instagram

Photos: Hannes Gleue

React! Impro, Weil der Stadt (near Stuttgart) · April — 11 days, dozens of scenes, one jet-lag that might just be longing in disguise.

We didn’t share a language.

But we shared a moment.

Not lost—improvised in translation.

I came home to Taiwan almost a week ago, yet my body still thinks it’s Germany. “If the jet-lag hasn’t left,” my friend "N" joked, “maybe you haven’t left either.” She was right: a little piece of me is still sitting in that rehearsal room, laughing with forty-eight strangers who somehow became family.

When English Fails, Trust the Partner

Ten years ago, at a Keith Johnstone workshop in Canada, my biggest fear was that my English wasn’t good enough. Ten years later, my grammar is still far from perfect—but I’ve learned how to connect onstage without it.

On day two in Germany Shawn Kinley asked us to describe objects in precise detail—a nightmare for my vocabulary. After class I confessed my frustration:

Me: “What do I do when words freeze?”

Shawn: “Run an experiment. Next time, speak Chinese.”

So I did. 

Where Improv Meets Therapy – A Psychologist’s Journey

Written by Wang Chia-Chi, psychologist & improviser.  

Let’s connect → tomoewcc@gmail.com | Instagram

 

Hi, I’m Wang Chia-Chi —

an improviser, playbacker, and licensed psychologist based in Taipei, Taiwan.

I believe that improvisation and psychotherapy are both rooted in presence, curiosity, and deep listening — and that when combined, they offer powerful ways to connect, heal, and grow.

I currently work at Better Help Clinic, where I support adults navigating relational issues, emotional overwhelm, and trauma. My approach to therapy is integrative and relational — drawing from psychodynamic theory, expressive arts, and embodied practices. Whether in the therapy room or on stage, I care deeply about helping people reclaim their voice, feel seen, and stay connected to their inner life.

I’m also a performer, musician, and improv coach at Inprint Theatre — a Playback Theatre ensemble made up of actors, musicians, and psychologists/drama therapists.

Improvising Real Life: On Stage with Inprint Theatre

At Inprint Theatre, we honor the spirit of Playback Theatre. By combining it with the playful, spontaneous, and creative elements of improvisational theatre, we turn real-life moments into theatrical expression. During our shows, we listen to personal stories shared live by audience members, then bring those stories to life on stage — through improvised theatre, music, clowning, and live illustration — and offer them back to the storyteller as a creative gift.

How to Use Improv Skills to Enhance the Effectiveness of Trauma Therapy?

Written by Wang Chia-Chi, psychologist & improviser.  

Let’s connect → tomoewcc@gmail.com | Instagram

Trauma therapy is a significant topic in psychotherapy. However, I've always wondered, "What is the right way to work with emotional trauma?"

With this question in mind, I joined my colleague, Hung-Ru Chen's workshop "Healing Magic in the Counseling Room." 

During the course, when he shared the presentation on "Integration of Trauma Therapy Schools," my eyes lit up...

Oh my, I got it.

School of Trauma Therapy

In the workshop, Hung-Ru listed the trauma therapy schools that he commonly used as follows:

• Hypnosis
• Trauma-Informed Therapy
• Psychodrama
• Gestalt Therapy
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Somatic Experiencing (SE)

Each school has its own focus and intervention methods, such as: