Performer Ruby Rose Fox and therapist Jennie Knott unite to create a trauma-informed program for performing arts programs and touring artists aimed at revolutionizing our understanding of how our nervous system informs the way we connect with ourselves and each other.
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TUNEFOOLERY
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CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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YALE UNIVERiSTY
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EMERSON COLLEGE
SAMPLE WORKSHOP FOR STUDENTS- YALE UNIVERSITY ARTS DEPT.
In these workshops, one virtual and one in-person, we explored trauma-informed principles and mapped how our nervous systems respond to critique.
TRAIN IN PERSON.
TRAIN VIRTUALLY.
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Ruby is multi-award winning musical artist, charted #8 on the Heatseeker Billboard charts, has over 2 million Spotify plays, and her music is featured on the game Rock Band. In the last 4 years, Ruby has become a mental health pioneer, starting with her nervous system state-shifting class for performers, based on cutting-edge research by Dr. Stephen Porges, and then with MuscleMusic, the #1 Trauma-Informed app for artists. Ruby has an Acting BFA from Emerson College and studied jazz and classical singing at both New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. She is trained in Polyvagal Theory from the Polyvagal Institute by Deb Dana. She also trained in Linklater technique, Alexander Technique, and Qi Gong. She has coined her own performance training method, The Fox Method which combines Integral Theory, Polyvagal Theory, and decades of experience on the stage. Contact Information: Ruby@RubyRoseFox.com
Meet the Team
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LSCW, MUSCLE MUSIC GROUP THERAPIST, POLYVAGAL ADVISOR
Jennie Knott is a licensed clinical social worker and received her Master’s in Social Work from Simmons College in 2013. She has advanced training in the treatment of developmental trauma, issues related to substance use and gender and sexual identity development. She cares deeply about exploring how race, culture, class, gender and other sociopolitical structures impact individual and community identity development, mental health, wellness, and a sense of belonging in the world. Her clinical practice is grounded in harm reduction psychotherapy, liberation healing and innovations in trauma-informed care; and she prioritizes therapeutic interventions that support people in recognizing, honoring and building upon their internal resilience. This philosophical orientation has been shaped through her previous work in a variety of settings, including the Cambridge Hospital, Healthcare for the Homeless, AIDS Action Committee, and most recently as the Interim Director of Counseling at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.Contact Information: jennieknott@gmail.com Areas of Specialty: Internal Family Systems therapy, Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, Liberation Psychology, Motivational Interviewing, Polyvagal theory (2018 Rhythm of Regulation graduate) and innovations in trauma-informed care.Personal: Jennie is deeply committed to meeting people where they are, and to approaching conversations with curiosity, compassion and humility. A “wounded therapist” herself, she recognizes the courage required to investigate suffering with a stranger – in addition to the power that connection and community contribute to the ability to heal and to thrive.
WORKSHOP FAQs
How many of people can attend a workshop at one time?
We can teach from 1-300, but to get the MOST out of it we about 10-25 participants per workshop. We can adapt for all kind of programs and situations.
Are you equipped to handle students or participant who may be triggered or overwhelmed?
Yes. So far our workshops have all gone incredibly smoothly, but this subject matter can stir up feelings for many people. Not only do we strive to create safety, we will offer resources and tools for after the workshop is over.
This is a frequently Is this LGBTQIA friendly? question?
Yes. Ruby and Jennie are intersectional feminists who welcome all communities and individuals. We have a commitment to actively participate in anti-racism and believe that the nervous system is the primary foundation of creating safer connection and community.
Is this like therapy?
No. This is a nervous system education. While it may share the benefits that therapy can offer, this is foundational work that people can do to find safety and connection in themselves and their organization.
What on earth is Polyvagal theory
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
What People Are Saying…
“I'm a veteran performer who struggled with acute stage fright for 15 years. The Unstoppable Performer is an absolute life-changing workshop. Performers, actors, speakers, leaders, executives or anyone in the public arena overcome by stage fright: you don't need to quit your calling!
The topics in the course are bite size and digestible - perfect for anyone who is busy and needs to take their time learning. Ruby's teaching style is practical, relatable and she models with her own nervous system what it looks and feels like to have a calm, empowered and regulated nervous system. You will enjoy and learn from her presentation alone.
I am so grateful to Ruby for this priceless, profound and totally cutting-edge education. You will be too.”
— Jenee Halstead- Teacher, Musician
“The maintenance of the nervous system health will revolutionize acting training by providing tools to manage the habitual trauma reactions that can be triggered by the work. Ruby Rose Fox's life as a performer combined with her research in Polyvagal Theory provide unique insight into the specific application of these methods to the particular challenges of going onstage night after night. Her mindful approach to cultivating resiliency and self-compassion will ensure longevity and deepen our connection to our most unique and authentic creativity. I wish I had this knowledge as a young actor and will be using these techniques in the classroom for years to come.”
— Adrianne Krystansky- Head of Theater @ Brandeis University
“After completing Ruby's course, I played a show and received a letter from a fan. They said they saw a BIG difference in my performance. They said it was the difference of watching an amateur trying to be professional and watching a professional. They said I looked way more confident and comfortable on stage.
— Kevin G. Moore- Musician & Performer
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO…
The results, which were published on April 30, are based on a web survey of nearly 1,500 independent musicians by Swedish-based digital distribution platform Record Union between March 21 and April 2. The survey found 73% of the population had faced negative mental health issues, with anxiety and depression topping the list of symptoms. Among those aged 18-25, the numbers are even worse, with 80% of respondents in that age range having experienced negative mental health effects stemming from their music careers.