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Photo: Manon Bourgeois
Hello!
I'm Alan Powell
From my nearly 20 year career as a film director in educational drama working with trauma-based themes to my six years training in various therapeutic modalities, I remain passionate about empowering artists. My unique blend of skills sensitizes me to the needs of actors as they journey on the courageous path to creating a character's emotional and psychological narrative. I am also well equipped to support challenges that arise when using ones self as a vessel for dramatic art communication.
"Alan's work is unique, creative and deeply life changing for actors. I highly recommend him."
Dr. Kate Hudgins
Therapeutic Spiral International, Psychologist
My Actor Care® journey so far...
For over 30 years I've been working in the arts. Since 2005 I have directed hundreds of actors in trauma-based educational dramas under contract with Western University and the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children in London, Canada. I'm also a multiple-award winning director for my own independent films. In 2016, I was looking to expand my capacity for directing actors. Specifically those actors who struggled to be emotionally authentic to themselves when performing scenes of a traumatic nature. From 2016-2022 I trained in various therapeutic modalities at accredited institutes which included three years as a placement therapist under clinical supervision working one-to-one with clients with complex PTSD, anxiety and depression.
After learning a great deal about trauma I turned my thoughts back to the actors I had encountered in the past. I realised that they may have been stuck in a trauma behaviour pattern and didn't feel safe enough to venture any further than their current comfort zone. After six years of educating myself on therapeutic approaches (which was richly rewarding from a professional and personal development perspective) I returned to working in the creative realm with actors. I developed and piloted Actor Care® (formerly known as ACES - Actualizing Characters by Expanding Self-awareness). A trauma-informed model for actors developing emotionally challenging characters. It was inspired by TSM (Therapeutic Spiral Model) Psychodrama. Although Actor Care® is not therapy, in the interest of my own continued learning and for my own ethical standards, I have chosen to have supervision with a qualified clinical supervisor. My own research and academic work is also peer reviewed.
My passion to create community led to a collaboration with Dr. Mark Seton. Together we produced/curated & moderated the Actor Wellbeing Webinar series hosted by the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA). The series was a five-part panel discussion that brought together practitioners, educators, researchers, & therapists from across the globe to discuss the various aspects of actor wellbeing, i.e. in lifestyle, work, education, actor's craft & research. The connections we made from this project formed the Actor Wellbeing Facilitators Collective (AWFC) that has enabled the panelists and others involved in actor wellbeing work to stay in touch for further collaborations and information sharing.
On other international fronts, Actor Care® has been presented at the International Association of Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes (Italy), Musicians’ and Performing Artists’ Health and Performance (Norway), the Australian Society for Performing Arts Health, Association for Theatre in Higher Education (USA), Stanislavsky Research Centre (England), Performing Arts Medicine Association (USA) and, Association of Acting Coaches & Educators (Canada). I work with educational institutions as well as with industry communities. I also work with entire casts and 1-1 with actors in rehearsal/production and independently to develop a healthier/self-care approach that also allows for a deeper/layered emotional experience of their character.
Actor Care® was one of the processes used during the Mind the Gap resilience research at Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance in collaboration with London South Bank University in England. It's being used in film and theatre and has been a game changer for many actors. I'm also very excited about its inclusion in the book series Stanislavsky and… (Routledge, Taylor & Francis).
My approach and philosophy to Actor Care® fills a much needed niche. When actors encounter their characters' psychological and emotional complexity their creative journey goes beyond what the skills of an acting coach can offer, is not necessarily a therapist’s domain and, is not the responsibility of an Intimacy Coordinator. It's in this space where resilience and vulnerability must work together to support successful wellbeing outcomes, and transformative and sustainable performances. Traumatic story narratives can often trigger actors and/or leave them with emotional 'lingerings' that can have serious impact on their mental health if not managed well. Some Character portrayals can force actors out of their comfort zone demanding them to engage with more of their emotional palette. The impact of which can be managed with Actor Care®.
Although I trained in various therapeutic modalities, I am not a therapist. I don’t assist in healing trauma. If there is personal work to be done outside the work of character creation, I set the boundary and always sign post the actor. My responsibility as I see it, and why, on top of my directing career, I trained for years in psychotherapy and experiential techniques is to support the actor’s well being before, during and after they dive deep into the characters they are embodying. This involves providing a safe and contained space. It’s very personal and creative work but necessary for the serious, health-conscious actor who wants to grow with every role they perform and become resilient in their craft.
I am a member of Actors Equity UK and the Association of Acting Coaches & Educators (AACE) and abide by their code of ethics. Certificates Awarded*: Humanistic Integrative Counselling, Psychodynamic Integrative Counselling, Psychodrama Theory & Practice, Therapeutic Spiral Model Experiential Trauma Therapy (level 2). *I am not a therapist.
"I highly recommend anyone who is intending on playing challenging characters that can trigger past trauma to consider using Actor Care® as a method. [It] had an empowering impact on my performance".
Vanessa Cruickshank
(Heartstopper, Just One Last Thing)