Tree House Youth Theatre
THRIVE
Thrive is an innovative mental health program by Tree House Youth Theatre designed to empower teens, aged 13–17, who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, that live in the Red Deer area. Through theatre-based games, roleplay, and improvisation, Thrive combines creative expression with evidence-based mental health strategies to help participants develop essential coping skills, emotional resilience, and self-confidence.​
​
Our program utilizes the Red Deer Primary Care Network's Anxiety to Calm and Pathways to Happiness courses as the basis for our own 12-week curriculum. Guided by skilled facilitators, and supported by mental health professionals, participants engage in improvisation, role-playing, and storytelling activities that promote mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-expression within a supportive and collaborative environment.
​
In addition to building their own skills, participants design a theatre-based mental health workshop during weeks 13 and 14 of Thrive, that they tour and present for elementary school students in week 15. This workshop will introduce younger kids to accessible tools for managing emotions and building resilience through theatre based play. This unique initiative fosters leadership, advocacy, and a sense of purpose among the teens, while creating a lasting impact in the wider community and reinforcing learning.
​
With strong support from partners like the City of Red Deer, Red Deer Primary Care Network, Move Your Mood Studio, YMCA of Northern Alberta, Parkland Mall, Red Deer Polytechnic and Copies Now, Thrive is more than just a program, it’s a movement to reduce stigma around mental health, and equip young people with the tools to thrive. By fostering connection, creativity, and confidence, Thrive ensures that teens in central Alberta and beyond can navigate life’s challenges with strength and resilience.
Mission
To empower teens, aged 13–17, with emotional resilience, self-confidence, and coping skills through theatre-based activities that promote mental health awareness and advocacy.
Vision
To create a future where all teens feel supported, resilient, and empowered to lead healthier lives through the transformative power of theatre and mental health education.
THRIVE Overview
WHAT IS THRIVE?
Thrive is a transformative theatre-based mental health program designed for central Alberta teens aged 13–17, running from September to June, and split into two-terms (Sept-Dec/Feb-May). Teens can be referred to Thrive by parents/guardians, mental health professionals, school counsellors, and/or doctors. There is no fee to participate in Thrive. Our program combines theatre exercises, mindfulness practices, and roleplay to equip participants with essential tools to manage anxiety and depression, while fostering emotional resilience and a sense of community.
​
Thrive is presented in three phases: Learning, Building, and Workshop over a total of 15-weeks, including the tour day.
​​
Thrive is offered twice per year from:
-
Beginning of September to mid-December
or
-
Beginning of February to mid-May
​
Thrive is currently accepting referrals for our September to December 2026 term.
​
LEARNING PHASE (12-WEEKS)
Date/Time: We offer a Wednesday or Thursday option from 5:30-7:00
Ages: 13-17
Cost: $0.00
For three months, from September to November or February to April, teens will learn both the ​Anxiety to Calm and Youth Pathways to Happiness courses using theatre games, exercises, improv, and roleplay. Teens will meet in Red Deer at either the YMCA of Northern Alberta (Wed) or at the Parkland Mall (Thu), once a week after school for 90-min from 5:30-7:00.
​
Thank you to the YMCA of Northern Alberta, and Parkland Mall for generously donating space for our programming. Thank you to the Red Deer Primary Care Network for curriculum use, and support.
​
BUILDING PHASE (2-WEEKS)​
Date/Time: We offer a Wednesday or Thursday option from 5:30-7:00
Ages: 13-17
Cost: $0.00
Thrive will transition into a community engagement phase where participants create and design a theatre-based workshop for elementary school students throughout central Alberta. This peer-led initiative reinforces their learning while promoting mental health awareness to younger audiences. With the guidance of skilled facilitators and support from mental health professionals, teens will develop a workshop of theatre games that can be played by elementary school students that help promote positive coping skills and techniques for managing anxiety and depression. The teens will reinforce the skills they learned in the Learning Phase of Thrive.
​
WORKSHOP PHASE (ONE TOUR DAY EACH)
The teens will be grouped together, and will tour to an elementary school for one afternoon to lead the workshop they designed. This helps to reinforce the skills they have learned, and will help to destigmatize mental health in our community.​
​
HOW TO JOIN
Teens experiencing anxiety/and or depression can talk to a parent/guardian, school counsellor, doctor, or therapist about Thrive, and have them fill out a registration form, which is located below. ​
​
HOW TO REFER
​If a parent/guardian or mental health professional believes that Thrive could be a good fit for someone they support, please click the button below for more information .
​
We are now taking referrals for our Fall Term, which runs September to December 2026.
Our Team
THRIVE PARTNERS
Become a Sponsor
We aim to keep Thrive free for participants. We do this through partnerships within central Alberta. We receive a CCDF grant from the City of Red Deer, and are looking for local organizations that would like to sponsor one or more participants of Thrive.
​
If your company/organization sponsors a participant for $500.00/participant, we will thank you in the following ways:
Logo in our Handbook
Your company logo will appear in the handbook that all participants receive listing how many participants that your company/organization sponsored to attend Thrive.
Logo on our Website
In addition to our handbook, your company/organization logo and description will be displayed on our website with how many participants you have sponsored to participate in Thrive for the current year and all-time.
Social Media Thanks
We will thank you on social media once per month during the year, and list the number of participants you are sponsoring to take part in Thrive.
Weekly Email Footer
School Tour Banner
In the footer of each weekly email, your company/organization logo will be displayed in our Sponsored by section.
Your company/organization logo will be displayed on the banner we display during our elementary school tour.
To become a sponsor, simply send us an email to info@treehouseyouththeatre.ca and tell us how many participants you would be interested in sponsoring.