How Actors can Benefit from Therapy - by Robert Curtiss

When working in a business as insecure as acting, it can often be difficult to remain a secure person. It's incredibly important to be of good, sound body and mind, and to maintain mental and physical health. Keep your mind clear, healthy, and balanced. I believe in positive energies. I think going through life with a positive attitude promotes positive work.

We all have times, however, when it’s a struggle to maintain a good attitude and a healthy outlook. There are times when even friends can't help you fix what’s bothering you, and acting class is not the place to work out your troubles. 

If you’re having problems in a relationship, at work, or just having difficulties adjusting to your new life in the city, consider going to therapy. Many people try to work out their problems in their minds, but there is something to be said for talking out loud about your issues and hear them reflected back to you from a mental health professional. 

A therapist can help you identify problematic behavior patterns and help you to figure out why you do what you do, help you to cope and/or make necessary changes in your life to move forward, maintain your balance, and to help you deal with new challenges. This will only enhance your life and your career.

Some people believe that therapy is only for weak or "sick" people. This is untrue. In fact, it shows inner strength to ask for help. As for the cost, many therapists have a sliding scale to accommodate clients with limited resources, and most insurance plans offer some mental health coverage. If you need therapy and can truly benefit from it, find a way to afford it. Some people can't afford to not have therapy! 

Remember: If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. Therapy can help you change that cycle, and can truly enhance and enrich your life.

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Read what other Experts are saying! Backstage Experts

4 Steps to Taking Criticism as an Actor - by John Essay

As a manager, I advise clients on career choices, groom them for the industry with guidance on new headshots, resumes, classes, and type choices. I also make professional introductions, and personally advise them on every step of their business, which includes some aspects of life coaching. 

Presumably, actors know this—and want this—when they are seeking a personal manager, or other forms of representation. Yet some actors come into my office thinking I am going to be amazed at how talented, professional, and on top of things they are, and they seem to think I will simply agree to represent them with no advice to offer. When they hear my suggestions, they look stunned and uncomfortable. I can't tell you how many times I have met with an actor for the first time—for our "interview"—and started to tell them something they didn't want to hear—that I was unable to represent them, or that they needed to get new pictures—and watched them "tune out." I can watch it happen before my eyes. Their eyes glaze over. They nod like they are listening, but I can tell they just want to get out of my office as soon as they can.

I wonder how well these actors take direction on stage or on screen. I wonder what is going to happen if we decide to work together and we encounter a crisis. How can I help someone who can't listen to my advice, or accept anything they feel is critical of them?

A happy life and a fulfilling career require personal growth, and understanding criticism is essential to personal growth. Criticism is everywhere so try to use it to your advantage.

Here are some simple steps to constructively deal with criticism: Hear it, evaluate it, learn from it, and take action.

1. Hear the criticism. Just listen. Resist the urge to justify, excuse, or defend yourself. If you're not ready to analyze the critique, analyze it later.

2. Evaluate the criticism. Does this criticism apply to you? Is the critic speaking truth or are they off the mark? If you are unsure if the critique is true, ask someone close to you that you trust.

3. Learn from it. If the criticism is justified, you have been made aware of something you need to adjust, change, or do. Accept this knowledge.

4. Take action. Once you have figured out what action you should take, do it. This is a typical time for procrastination, but I urge you to make the changes instead.

This process of handling with criticism will be a tremendous advantage to you as an actor. I wish you much success!
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Read what other Experts are saying! Backstage Experts

Advice & Critique: How to listen when it's not what you want to hear

In The Actors Guide To Everything, under REPRESENTATION, we write that a manager "advises clients on career choices, grooms them for the industry with guidance on new headshots, resumes, classes, type choices, etc., and personally advises every step of their business, which includes some aspects of life coaching."

Presumably actors know this - and want this - when they are seeking a personal manager, or other form of representation. Yet I can't tell you how many times I have met with an actor for the first time - for our "interview" - and started to tell them something they didn't want to hear - that I was unable to represent them, or that they needed to get new pictures, or ... well, you get the idea - and watched them "tune out" I can watch it happen before my eyes: their eyes glaze over, they nod like they are listening but I can tell they just want to get out of my office as soon as they can.

Actors frequently come into my office thinking I am going to be amazed at how talented, professional and on top of things they are, and they seem to think I will simply agree to represent them with no advice to offer. When they hear my suggestions, they look stunned and uncomfortable. I wonder how well they take direction on stage or on screen. I wonder what is going to happen if we decide to work together and we encounter a crisis -- how can I help someone who can't listen to my advice, or accept anything they feel is critical of them?

A happy life & career require personal growth, and understanding criticism is essential to personal growth. Criticism is everywhere, so use it to your advantage.

Here are some simple steps to deal with criticism: Hear it, evaluate it, learn from it and take action.

Hear the criticism: Just listen. Resist the urge to justify, excuse or defend yourself. If you're not ready to analyze the critique, analyze it later.

Evaluate the criticism: Does this criticism apply to you? Is the critic speaking truth or is he/she off the mark? If you are unsure if the critique is true, ask someone close to you, who you trust.

Learn from it: If the criticism is justified, you have been made aware of something you need to adjust, change or do. Accept this knowledge.

Take action: Once you have figured out what action you should take, do it. This is a typical time for procrastination, but make the choice to make the changes instead.

This process of "dealing" with criticism will be a tremendous advantage to you as an actor.

If you need more tantalizing information on receiving criticism, check out Bob's Corner!