Boulder StoryHealers is a nonprofit organization that helps humanize and improve mental health through the power of storytelling.

Boulder StoryHealers works with people who have experienced trauma, illness, and adversity to share, enlighten others, and build compassion and understanding in the community.

DOUG VINCENT, OWNER AND LEAD FACILITATOR

Words from Doug about work with campers at Rocky Mountain Village Easter Seals Camp:

Deeply honored to do some Boulder StoryHealers work up at Easter Seals Camp Rocky Mountain Village this week. During our storyteller hour- CU Buffs great Derek McCoy spoke first (with Khalel) about "Overcoming Adversity". Dan Gelston told his soulful story "Authentic Self'. Nick Collins graciously allowed me to read his powerful "My Story in Pieces" and Mitch McKinney told The Easter Seals Camp Story: "I Remember''. These guys are all soul expanding brilliant. Thank you Easter Seals folks, y'all rock!
Boulder StoryHealers works with individuals and groups to write stories that they perform onstage to an audience of family, friends, and supporters. Stories can be written individually or in a group workshop facilitated by executive director, Doug Vincent. Boulder StoryHealers works with people who have experienced trauma, illness, and adversity to share, enlighten others, and build compassion and understanding in the community. If you would like to share your story, please contact us. We will do our best to find an opportunity for you to work with us, so that you can share your story.

The StoryHealers Process

Safe, Sacred Space

For each Boulder StoryHealers workshop, we work with a specific group, such as people affected by the Colorado Wildfires-people who lost their homes, business owners affected, firefighters, and animal rescue workers. Typically about six to eight people from that group commit to an intense StoryHealers workshop, lasting four to five days or a series of weekends. Together as a group with the facilitator, participants create a space that is safe, supported, and where everyone is given unconditional regard.

Guided through the Process

The workshop participants each write a monologue that culminates in a one-night group monologue performance. Led by Doug Vincent, a trained Therapeutic Monologue Facilitator, a deeply supportive environment is carefully cultivated for writing and creation of the monologues. Through skilled coaching and facilitation, coupled with deeply supportive group feedback and collaboration, the stories evolve into cohesive and powerful monologues.

Your True Voice Emerges

Within this safe space, each individual's stories emerge and evolve through a combination of particular writing prompts, improv exercises and deep acceptance. Ample time is given in the workshops for the stories to develop, the voices to to emerge, and for the writing to form. The process of the workshop itself often produces the deepest catharsis, before the monologues are even performed.

Share Your Story

Participants perform the monologues as a group performance for family, friends, and supporters of the Boulder StoryHealers community. Together, the monologues grow into a collective show of profound poignancy and unexpected humor. Ultimately, these monologues enable the fully embodied voice of a soul releasing trauma.

What

Clients Say

We’ve worked with some awesome clients who love us and our services. Check what they have to say about us.

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"Doug Vincent is a creative powerhouse who embodies compassion, gentleness and bravery. It is a rare person who can nurture and reveal a tender heart and empathic spirit in the perfonmance arena - both as an actor and as a facilitator. His comedic ability spans the physical and intellectual. His emotional spectrum spans the vulnerable to the powerful, one not excluding the other but walking hand-in-hand. Because of this, he is able to bring his audience along with him to places we might not willingly go with anyone else. This capacity in him crosses over into his work as a facilitator. Following and leading his students into uncharted territories, bringing them out the other side through the transcendent power of story-telling is his gift, and ultimately, our gift. Doug Vincent truly is in service to the world with all he offers. He truly is doing his part to make this world a better place by fostering the transformational power of story-telling. All who know him and work with him are deeply fortunate." -

Michelle Baker-Writer, Artist

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"As a performer, Doug has the ability to quietly draw the audience into his world, and then gives us permission to dance around with him. Watching him perfonm is truly inspiring. He is one of those people who walks the line between gloriously light and hilariously dark; he punches you in the gut with truth then gives you a hug. As a writer and a mentor, Doug is one of the most supportive people I've ever met. While writing my solo show "Miss Communication," Doug was there every step of the way, helping me figure out the story I wanted to tell. He patiently read all the drafts, listened to all my grandiose ideas, and was my cheerleader when the self doubt took over. He never pushed or "directed" my show into what he thought it should be. He encouraged me to get everything out and then allowed me to see the story that was already there. Our stories are the product of our pasts, but the simple act of telling our stories ensures that they don't have to define our futures. Doug taught me that our stories can set us free, and for that I am forever grateful."

Michelle Miracle-Actor/Comedian Voice-Over Artist/Writer/Bowler

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"I have always loved working with Doug. He is present and giving as a partner in improvisation, ever-ready to follow or lead the way no matter where the scene is headed. Writing with him is much the same: Doug walks a fine line between the banal and the deep, always ready to explore thought-provoking realities or dance off into a world of ridiculous fantasy. In short: he is a ton of (super smart) fun."

Jared Crain-Writer, Actor, Comedian

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"Doug Vincent tackles the themes of fatherhood and what it means to be a good man through the lens of a son as well as a first time father himself. Vincent's storytelling is rooted in raw truth and tenderness as he guides his audience through his own personal journey exploring the deep and sometimes fragile bonds of family and self. Vincent is an actor's actor - exploring his characters with depth and delivering them to his audience unvarnished, flawed, and simply human. He is a master of developing full and complex characters."

Ann marie Houghtailing-Playwright and Performer of the Critically Acclaimed Off-Off Broadway Solo Show, "Renegade Princess"

"Doug Vincent embodies a rare and magical combination of qualities that make him a powerful performer and a gifted healer. He is somehow a consummate entertainer and a generous empath, challenging and supportive, rigorous and joyful, fearless in the face of suffering and one of the funniest people I have ever known. Full of energy and absolutely centered all at once, he is a natural leader who is willing and eager to hold the tethers loosely so that those he is working with can soar. But one of Doug's greatest gifts is his uncanny ability to somehow know just which of these energies is called for in any given moment-and in what measure-to take his audience or his workshop participants just past their edge and over into revelation."

Courtney Arnold-Writer/Performer/Coach/Arts Administrator

About Doug Vincent

Born into a humor soaked small town Virginia family, Doug Vincent quietly absorbed inspired tales from storytelling masters. An accomplished improv comedian, he has written and performed with comedy troupes such as ACME Comedy Players, The Traveling Susans, and On the Spot, working various comedy venues such as Bovine Metropolis, Madcap Theater and Comedy Works.

For Doug it was not the laughter, but the darkness behind the humor that remained concealed. His determination to find the deeper story led to developing his own show, A Day for Grace. Originally a solo show, artistic synchronicity led to unique collaboration with roots rock legend Sam Llanas (formerly of BoDeans). With its first performance in 2012, the play has run multi-city national tours. Through Mr. Vincent’s non-profit Boulder StoryHealers, he helps humanize and improve mental health through the power of storytelling. Doug also offers services for all aspects of solo show writing, development and production. From workshops to coaching, directing, marketing and producing, Doug helps individuals with their solo show from concept thru performance and down to the bone with heart and soul.

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Doug Vincent's Critically Acclaimed Play - A Day for Grace

"A DAY FOR GRACE is an Off-Broadway tour-de-force by Doug Vincent, a writer and actor who absolutely stuns the audience by playing more than ten people virtually simultaneously. In short the play is brilliant. The stuff of gasps, tears and deep belly laughs. The audience's reaction is intense. Al the end of the play the audience swarms Doug hugging him and touching him if they are determined to absorb some of his-well, grace. II is a lovely thing to see. The show also features an amazing live performance of original music by guitarist, singer and rock icon, Sam Llanas. Of Sam Llanas I cannot do better than to quote the publicist. 'His thirteen musical numbers serve as the evening's touchstones, enthralling Greek chorus and riveting denouement.' This is perhaps the second lime a solo performance has had the power and beauty to reduce me to tears. It's only running for a short lime-GO SEE IT!"

Claire Mccurdy

Woman Around Town, New York City

"From the pre-show buzz this show promised to be interesting. The reason it is being reviewed is that Doug Vincent's words are being skillfully augmented by Sam Llanas' music. Mr. Vincent ingeniously layers the story, with a memory within a memory. Mr. Llanas joins in and punctuates that story. Then Vincent layers yet another aspect into the overall scheme of things. Llanas is as brilliant as ever. His songwriting fits into the concept of this performance so well, that the fourteen-year time lapse from the time most of the songs were written until the premiere of the play seems like weeks. The music remains fresh to the concept; adding poignancy. I was bowled over by Doug Vincent's performance. To put these two dynamic talents on the stage is a formula for adventure, and a blueprint for an emotional rollercoaster ride that rivals anything you would find at Six Flags. If you have a chance to see 'A DAY FOR GRACE.' I strongly advise you to do so. It is masterly performed, intelligently composed and directed, and showcases some of the best music you may or may not heard before. Oh yeah, and it makes you laugh, as well. A lot!"

Jeff Boule

New York City

"I am so impressed with A DAY FOR GRACE that I don't know what to tell you about first. I could start with the versatile and consummate storytelling abilities of Doug Vincent. Prompted by the impending birth of his daughter, he weaves his childhood memories in small town Virginia into his not-easily-won current life. You'll laugh and cry and hold your breath in anticipation and never take your eyes off him. UNTIL you hear iconic American songwriter Sam Llanas' haunting voice perform his original music. Both men command the stage, share the spotlight, and complement each other perfectly. Together Vincent and Llanas and the poignant, forceful, and triumphant story will take your breath away. This is a powerful piece of work. A DAY OF GRACE should not be missed."

Laurie Lawson

New York City

"To call playwright Doug Vincent's new play, A DAY FOR GRACE, harrowing is an understatement. II is an emotional rollercoaster ride that immediately sold-out the show's acclaimed New York debut. Exploring the events of a hardscrabble Virginia childhood, Vincent plays himself as well as a Greek chorus of family members whose take on events don't always sync with his own. He is a gifted and extremely entertaining storyteller. His depiction of his childhood emulation of the future Hall of Fame catcher from the Cincinnati Reds is delivered suspensefully, with a deft touch not unlike a baseball broadcaster recounting events as they happen in real lime. As the show's segments shift, Sam Llanas, frontman for the popular Wisconsin roots rockers the BoDeans does his part as Greek chorus with his acoustic guitar and warm baritone voice, singing excerpts from songs including the BoDeans' brooding classic 'Far, Far Away From My Heart' as well as several numbers from his 1998 cult classic CD, 'A Good Day to Die,' by the short-lived side project Absinthe which clocked in at #629 on the 1000 Best Albums Of All Time List here at LucidCulture. The pieces from that song cycle used in the show have had their lyrics tweaked to fit the new context, and add considerable depth and gravitas to the overall ambience. At this past Saturday's show, as the suspense reached breaking point, Vincent was literally moved to tears recalling how events unfolded. Several audience members were overcome by emotion as well. Sometimes the drama of real life surpasses anything contrived for the stage. The show is tantalizing. The songs are haunting and majestic."

DeLarue

New York City

Interested in Boulder StoryHealers?

Would you like to learn more about the process and outcomes? Contact Doug Vincent to learn about what StoryHealers can do for you and your organization.

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