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, depression, and/or ADHD 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, Pathways to Happiness, and ADHD courses as the basis for our own 8-week curriculums. 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 week 7, that they tour and present to elementary school students in week 8. 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 theatre-based mental health program designed for central Alberta teens aged 13–17, with workshops running from September to June. Teens can be referred to Thrive by parents/guardians, mental health professionals, school counsellors, teachers and/or doctors. There is no fee to participate in Thrive. Our programming combines theatre games, improv, 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 8-weeks, which includes the elementary school tour day.
Thrive currently offers three programs:
THRIVE WITH ANXIETY (8-Weeks)
Program Description
Participants will learn tools and skills to increase resilience, and decrease anxious feelings.
When: Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:00 at the Red Deer YMCA
Cost: $0.00
Thrive with Anxiety is offered three times during the year:
September to October | January to February | May to June
School workshop in late October, February, and June
*can be taken alongside Thrive with Depression
THRIVE WITH DEPRESSION (8-Weeks)
Program Description
Participants will learn skills, techniques, and tools for boosting mood, and to elevate spirits and motivation.
When: Thursday evenings from 5:30-7:00 at the Move Your Mood Studio
Cost: $0.00
Thrive with Depression is offered three times during the year:
September to October | January to February | May to June
School workshop in late October, February, and June
*can be taken alongside Thrive with Anxiety
THRIVE WITH ADHD (6-Weeks)
Program Description
Participants will learn techniques and tools for managing their ADHD, which will allow them to work with their ADHD instead of against it.
When: Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:00 at the Red Deer YMCA
Cost: $0.00
Thrive with ADHD is offered two times during the year:
November to December | March to April
School workshop in mid-December and mid-April
Thrive is currently accepting referrals for:
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Thrive with Anxiety | September to October
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Thrive with Depression | September to October
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Thrive with ADHD | November to December
In the final week, participants present the workshop that they developed to an elementary school in Red Deer.
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.
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 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 .
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.