Panel of Experts: A Therapeutic Improv Game for Shifting Perspective
By Sarah Rabinowitz, LCAT-LP
We've all been there: trapped in a loop of the same negative thought, convinced there's only one way to see a stressful event. This tunnel vision makes solutions seem impossible and frustration inevitable. But what if you could instantly assemble a team of diverse minds to weigh in on your problem? With therapeutic improv, you can. The game, Panel of Experts, can be a fun, creative, and powerful technique for expanding perspective and shifting negative mindsets when used in a therapeutic context. This is an exercise that I come back to time after time in my therapeutic improv groups. Here is why it is so powerful:
The Therapeutic Power of Perspective
We each have our own unique perspective—the lens through which we view and interpret life. It is influenced by our upbringings, our cultural contexts, and our past experiences. This perspective helps us make sense of the world. However, our perspective is limited because we simply don’t know what we don’t know.
Therapists often use techniques that help clients gain a deeper understanding and shift their mindset by viewing a situation from new viewpoints. For example, in an individual session, when a client feels stuck, their therapist might ask them what advice they would give a friend in the same situation. In cognitive-behavioral therapy, a therapist might encourage cognitive reframing (changing how you interpret a situation), identifying black-and-white thinking (noticing and challenging extreme words like “always” and “never”), or broadening the context (considering all factors that may have influenced the situation). In therapeutic improv, we can employ all of these techniques in a more playful and embodied way through the game "Panel of Experts."
How to Play Panel of Experts
The premise of Panel of Experts is that you are assembling a diverse group of 3-5 (or more) experts, played by group members, to weigh in on a personal challenge. These "experts" could be assigned roles like protector, lover, peacemaker, etc.; they could be emotions, like the characters in Inside Out; they could represent specific cognitive techniques (The Reframer, The Contrarian, The Historian/Sociologist); or they could simply be fictional characters the group agrees on. When casting group members as panelists, it is important to emphasise that the views expressed will be those of their character, which may not align with their personal views. This clear direction frees group members from fear of being judged or misunderstood.
Once the experts are decided and cast, another group member takes on the role of Moderator. The Moderator’s job is crucial: they introduce the audience (the rest of the group) to the experts and present the topic at hand. This topic may be a common experience shared by the group (loneliness, anxiety, grief, etc.), a general advice question, or a specific experience to be unpacked.
The Moderator starts by asking each panelist for their initial take, seeking a viewpoint that aligns with their assigned role. Following this initial commentary, the Moderator turns to the audience for further questions. In addition to broadening the conversation, the inclusion of the audience also allows more tentative group members to participate from the safety of their seats. For an extra playful round, the Moderator can introduce fictional backstories about the panelists that they then build into their characters. For example, the Moderator could reference the Fighter’s longstanding beef with the Peacemaker, and then the group members playing those characters would start playing out a rivalry as the conversation went on.
Once the discussion has run its course, the Moderator thanks the panelists and brings the conversation to a close. Then, everyone de-roles by wiggling their bodies to “shake out their characters” and returning to their seats as themselves. This is followed by a group debrief, where participants reflect on the new perspectives and insights that emerged from the panelists’ conversation.
The Practical Benefits: Why This Works
The "Panel of Experts" game is more than just fun; it’s a powerful, embodied way to practice fundamental psychological skills. By externalizing different viewpoints through character, the game naturally yields concrete therapeutic outcomes:
Increases Self-Awareness: By stepping outside of your primary viewpoint, you become more conscious of your own habitual emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, making it easier to identify where you get stuck.
Fosters Compassion: When you hear an issue discussed from the perspective of "The Compassionate Friend" or "The Historian," you gain a deeper understanding of the many factors at play. Understanding different viewpoints naturally leads to greater compassion for yourself and for others involved.
Improves Mood: The act of shifting your viewpoint moves you away from rigid, negative thought patterns and opens the door to more positive, balanced interpretations, which can immediately improve your emotional state.
Uncovers New Solutions: When you move beyond tunnel vision and see a bigger picture, the situation is no longer a fixed problem but a dynamic challenge. This broadened context reveals new options and possibilities for addressing the challenge that were previously invisible.
Panel of Experts is an accessible and creative way to practice essential therapeutic skills in a playful, low-stakes group format. The next time you notice yourself feeling stuck or caught in a familiar thought pattern, take a moment to imagine your own inner panel of experts. What might your Compassionate Friend say? Your Protector? Your Historian? Listening to these different inner voices can open space for curiosity, flexibility, and self-compassion. Sometimes, a small shift in perspective is all it takes to see a challenge in a new light.