Production Wellbeing Practitioner

Productions addressing intense themes need solid support for all involved. A qualified psychotherapist in performing arts offers more than wellbeing checks by creating a therapeutic space with clinical and ethical care. A Production Wellbeing Practitioner guides Heads of Department and Producers on duty of care, promoting mental health and resilience. Victoria, a registered psychotherapist, uniquely provides both individual and group therapy, helping creatives manage emotional challenges during development, rehearsals, or filming, boosting resilience and artistic clarity..

“Wessex Grove first started working with Applause for Thought on the West End production of A Little Life, and it is no exaggeration to say that the care, dedication, and resources they gave the company, on stage and off, were exemplary. Throughout the 137 performances in London, their team offered essential mental health and wellbeing support to a company of over 30 people, as well as ATG’s front of house teams.”

-Tom Powis, Wessex Grove

Production Impact

We are often working quietly in the background, offering support behind the scenes of projects that are very much in the public eye. It meant a great deal to us that Michael Longhurst chose to acknowledge our work in the recent PBS Behind the Scenes feature on Next to Normal.

We deliberately maintain a low profile when working on productions to create safe, supportive spaces where the work can take root and flourish discreetly. That said, reflections like his are incredibly valuable, they help others understand the impact of what we do and allow the work to grow and reach more people.

Not all shows need therapeutic support, as many engage audiences without it. However, some productions, especially those addressing mental health, trauma, or family issues, benefit from expert guidance to handle complex themes sensitively. Support from trained professionals can deepen audience connection and enrich discussions.

Poster for the film "A Little Life" featuring a close-up of a young man's face with a serious expression, with the film title and credits on a white background.
Poster for the musical 'Next to Normal' at Wyndham's Theatre, featuring a silhouette of a woman's head with colorful, swirling abstract shapes and musical notes inside her hair, with promotional quotes and show details in purple and pink text.
Promotional poster for the stage production of 'The Years,' adapted and directed by Eline Arbo, based on the novels by Annie Ernaux. Features a group of five women of various ages standing side by side against a dark background, with a series of star ratings and text indicating review quotes from publications like The Guardian, The Independent, The Observer, and others. The poster includes details about the production's opening date and venue, Harold Pinter Theatre.
Theater ticket for 'The Hills of California,' a play by Jez Butterworth, directed by Sam Mendes.

Learn more…

  • All our PWP’s (Production wellbeing practitioners) are BACP or UKCP registered psychotherapists and have extensive experience in the arts.

  • This is very dependent on the needs of the production. The PWP’s can offer therapy to those in the company or provide wellbeing check-ins instead. We tailor each package to the needs of the production.

  • Each PWP abides by a strict code of conduct that they agree to both when working for AFT and when they register with the UKCP and BACP.

  • We will agree a certain number of hours per week/month (dependent on number in the company and context within the production) that the PWP will be available. We always aim to be as responsive as possible though outside of these hours. Please note we are not a crisis service.

Want to discuss a PWP for your production?

We invite you to get in touch to discuss your production needs in detail, as we are committed to crafting a bespoke package that aligns perfectly with your vision.