Counselling Therapy for Actors and Performers
Starting a career in acting can be incredibly tough. It’s a world filled with constant rejection, harsh criticism, financial uncertainty, and long dry spells. No wonder so many actors struggle with anxiety and depression. Our focus is on helping you create a balanced life, so your self-esteem isn’t tied solely to the outcome of auditions. We work with you to find positivity and fulfillment in multiple areas of your life, reducing that sense of pressure or desperation that can build up before a big role. While we’re not acting coaches—those experts are the ones who help you connect with directors, prepare your lines, understand the nuances of a scene, and stay focused on your craft—our role is to support your personal and emotional well-being.
We also spend time strengthening your self-awareness and empathy, which are key traits for top performers. As the legendary acting teacher Konstantin Stanislavski once pointed out, the most authentic performances come from an actor’s deep understanding of both themselves and their characters. The more you know about your own inner world, the more convincingly you can step into someone else’s shoes.
Our work also covers the psychological fatigue that can come with method acting. Tapping into real-life emotions for a role, especially unresolved ones, can be exhausting and even damaging over time. Revisiting these raw feelings might lead to a wave of shame, anxiety, or sleep issues, leaving you feeling drained. We’re here to help you process and compartmentalize these emotions, so you can access them when needed without letting them take over your well-being.
Many actors talk about having a set of core emotional experiences they rely on to bring their characters to life—perhaps 10 to 12 key memories or feelings they draw from. At Keith Norris Counselling, we help you recover and manage these experiences safely, allowing you to tap into them without losing your sense of self. The safer and more grounded you feel, the deeper you can go into your emotional toolkit.
Our approach is inspired by the Person-Centered model, but it’s adapted specifically for high-performing professionals who might be dealing with the pressures of fame, fear of failure, addiction, the struggle to maintain both public and private identities, or complex family dynamics. We’re here to help you move past whatever might be holding you back, so you can show up fully and deliver your best work.