Gabrielle (Gabi) Scheff is a licensed Mental Health Counselor based in Massachusetts. After her career working in the live event industry, as a Lighting Technician, Designer, and Director, got derailed by Covid, Scheff went back to school to pivot into the mental health field. Her practice, Green Room Counseling, provides mental wellness services to our industry as noted in her mission statement ...to provide accessible mental health counseling to touring and production pros in a manner that fits their lifestyle, expectations, and needs so they can get back to the work they love. Counseling with first-hand knowledge of the unique demands of the industry makes Scheff someone we at PLSN wanted to spotlight in our ongoing coverage of mental wellness.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am currently working as a licensed mental health counselor in Metro WestMassachusetts. My background, however, lies in the production world. Growing up, I was exposed to various performing arts, including music, theater, and dance. I played the violin throughout my undergraduate years and pursued a theater degree with a minor in music performance. This experience was crucial in shaping my career path.

During college, I had my first opportunity to work in a theater and subsequently joined a local production company. This led to touring, and I ended up touring full-time for almost10 years, which I absolutely loved. Unfortunately, the pandemic brought touring to a halt, providing me with the chance to reflect on my career goals. During this time, I realized that many people were in need of help, which ultimately inspired my transition into mental health counseling.

Before you stopped touring, what was your main role?

I worked as a Lighting Technician, Designer, and Director, enjoying the blend of the technical and creative aspects. Touring requires adaptability and resilience, demanding20-hour workdays that sometimes overlook basic human needs like sleep, food, and bathroom breaks. This can lead to judgment from others if someone struggles to keep up. 

However, there’s a growing acceptance of the importance of taking time to adjust to new time zones and prioritizing breaks. It’s a slow but necessary shift in the production industry, which often pushes the limits of what’s possible.

How did you come up with the name Green Room Counseling?

Life on the road can be isolating, and maintaining relationships can be tough, so having a sounding board is essential. On the road, I often engaged in deep conversations while hanging out in transient spaces like backstage or green rooms. This led to the idea forGreen Room Counseling, where I provide a mental health walk-in service for those touring through Massachusetts.

Did your connections in touring play a significant role in your transition into counseling?

The connections you’ve made in the past will always be there. It’s always been my mission to make mental health support more accessible in the industry, coming from someone who truly understands it. You often find yourself spending a lot of time explaining to anew therapist how the industry works, why you make certain decisions, and why certain things may or may not be possible. It’s always been my goal to change that. I’ve always had faith that the community and network I’ve built over the years in the industry and through my tours would continue to be a strong support system.

Is there anything you specialize in that works best for this type of therapy needed for people on tour?

There is an evidence-based model called Single Session Therapy. It’s a solution-focused brief therapy model that sets up a framework to maximize the outcomes you can get in a one-hour meeting. It’s not a one-size-fits-all thing. In that way, I curate my approach to the individual and bring in many other elements from different modalities based on what they need.

Before seeing a new patient for a Single Session, do you need to know their mental health history?

At the end of the day, we’re working with people; we’re not working with labels or diagnoses. There are a lot of nuances to this particular brief solution-focused model where what we’re really zoning in on is what is most at the surface right now, what is the thing that’s most impacting you right now, and what can we do to set you up with aftercare instructions that can help you then address the circumstances. In that brief encounter, it’s my place in that role to give you the most benefit I can.

What you’re doing is so niche. What has been the response so far from the industry since you started doing this? 

So far, the response has been very positive, but we haven’t had a chance, or the time yet, to get the proof of concept. Doing this groundwork now can set up a framework that other clinicians in other states can then use and offer similar services because there’s so much great action being taken right now in the industry. I’m hoping that what I’m building here, even though I’m just one person with one license right now, can become a more popular, more commonplace model so that there can be a support network for people constantly traveling.

In addition to my client work in Massachusetts, I focus on integrating mental health awareness and advocacy into the industry. Recently, I spoke at NAMM about “navigating the post-tour blues” and the importance of fostering educational opportunities and open discussions nationwide.

Maintaining good physical and mental health are vital if you go on tour for six months. Going unchecked by a medical and mental health professional for that long can be risky. Do you agree?

Yes. And that’s the perfect way to put that. You don’t always wait until your leg falls off to see the doctor. Why would you also put yourself in a position to have to wait until your mental health is in jeopardy? Our industry has found ways to get an on-call doctor to come on-site. Why is mental health not a part of that? Tours bring in physical therapists.Why would you not bring in a mental health therapist? There’s a space for everyone.

What message do you want to convey to PLSN readers?

Therapy is for everyone; you don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from it. Think of it as a space to gain fresh perspective, understand your emotions and thought patterns in new ways, and fine-tune how you navigate the world. Entertainment, production, and touring professionals already bring so much creativity, resilience, and adaptability to their work — so therapy can be a way to do some personal maintenance, stay grounded, and keep yourself feeling sharp and refreshed. 

It’s important to remember that mental health is vital, and we are all human, not robots.It’s okay to not feel okay, and we need to have open conversations about it. Supporting each other’s mental health creates a positive work environment, essential for producing great shows.

How can people find you?

People can reach me online and schedule appointments, such as calling ahead if they’ll be in Massachusetts. Currently, I offer individual telehealth sessions that create a personal connection, allowing you to talk with me from anywhere, like a hotel room in Springfield.It’s quick, easy, and feels like we’re in the same room. 

Learn more about Green Room Counseling, the services they provide, and additional resources at: www.greenroomcounseling.com 

Photo courtesy of PLSN.