The Origin Story
How Humor Met Healing
Ally (al vine) moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue a career in acting. Believing that her hypersensitivity to life was training enough, she set out to book a dramatic role that would finally put all of her years of listening to Elliott Smith and “writing poetry” to use. Alas, she kept being directed towards comedy, and eventually gave in. Despite being hilarious, she struggled with the comedy (stand-up in particular)- late nights, drunk audiences, getting paid in bar tickets, etc. Eventually she asked herself “what if comedy was used for good instead of evil?” And this is how Clinical Comedy, Stand-up Therapy, and the ‘Not a Joke’ and ‘No Drink Minimum’ shows were born. Today Ally uses her lifelong love of dark comedy and passion for finding light and laughter in life’s most painful circumstances with her clinical training in background in social work to provide unique experiences in both therapeutic and entertainment settings.
Comedy Background
This work is shaped by years onstage using stand-up, storytelling, improv and sketch comedy as a powerful tool in building trust, connection, and shared relief - not just performance.
Clinical Training
Over a decade of working in mental health and substance use treatment in combination an MSW and clinical social worker license ensure that this work is trauma-informed, evidence-based, and designed with safety at its core.
Lived Experience
Clinical Comedy was born from the role humor and creativity played in my own mental health and substance use recovery—because comedy wasn’t just helpful, it was essential.
Work With Us!
We bring humor and healing to hospitals, outpatient and residential programs offering behavioral, mental health and substance use treatment.