HILARAPY is an uplifting web series that follows therapist-comedian Lizzie Allan as she pioneers a groundbreaking approach to healing for people in recovery from addiction. By blending clinical insight with the transformative power of laughter, Lizzie creates a safe space where participants can explore emotions, share their stories, and discover resilience through humour.
Across the series, viewers follow a diverse group of individuals who embark on Lizzie’s multi-week program, culminating in a live comedy show where they perform original stand-up routines. Along the way, they confront fears, challenge old beliefs, and find strength in vulnerability and community.
More than a therapeutic course, HILARAPY is a celebration of life, laughter, and the human spirit. By weaving together humour, heart, and authentic human connection, the series not only inspires but also breaks down the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health, showing how joy and creativity can open new pathways to recovery.
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Join the Community empowering the Hilarapy series
Step into Thrive.one and help bring Hilarapy — a groundbreaking web series where humour meets healing and recovery takes centre stage — to life.
What is Hilarapy
Hilarapy is more than a web series — it is an innovative, culturally significant approach to recovery.
By following real people as they transform lived experience into stand-up comedy, Hilarapy highlights the often-overlooked role of culture in recovery capital — the internal and external resources that help sustain long-term recovery. Through humour, creativity, and community, participants build confidence, connection, and a renewed sense of identity.
Created by therapist, comedian, and recovery advocate Lizzie Allan, Hilarapy is inspired by her widely loved comedy routine. It invites new audiences to engage in conversations about addiction, healing, and belonging, while reimagining recovery as visible, creative, and culturally vibrant.
This series aims to:
- Destimatise addiction and mental health
- Show recovery as courageous, messy, and genuinely hopeful
- Celebrate community, creativity, and the power of humour as a unifying force
By funding Hilarapy, you're helping us show the world that recovery can be real, relatable, and even joyful.
Meet Lizzie Allan Therapist, Comedian, Creator of Hilarapy
Lizzie Allan blends the depth of a trained psychotherapist with the daring honesty of a comedian. After surviving addiction, mental health challenges, and psychiatric care, she discovered that humour could unlock healing in ways nothing else could.
With 16 years of sobriety and over a decade of experience merging therapy with comedy, Lizzie created Hilarapy — a method that transforms shame, trauma, and old identities into connection, laughter, and freedom.
Who you’re helping bring to the stage
These are a few of the brave humans stepping into vulnerability, humour, and healing.
An Indigenous mother of resilience offering quiet strength, hope, and steady guidance to the group.
A young father reshaping his future through sobriety, honesty, and a surprising sense of humour.
A former drug dealer turned psychiatric nurse-in-training rewriting his story with heart and humour.
A 76-year-old grandmother and pillar of sobriety whose courage anchors the entire class.
Why this series matters
Hilarapy isn’t just entertainment. It offers visibility, validation, and hope for anyone who has struggled with addiction, mental health, shame, or feeling “too broken” to belong.
Too often, recovery stories are framed by tragedy or silence. Hilarapy offers something different — a compassionate, honest lens that shows healing as human, courageous, and joyful.
By backing this series, you help us:
- Share real recovery stories with dignity and care
- Normalise conversations around addiction and mental health
- Model healing rooted in laughter, courage, and connection
- Reach people who might not seek help otherwise
- Guide viewers to Thrive.one, a place where real support awaits
- Bring the Hilarapy method to a global audience
For someone watching, this series may be the first time they feel understood — or realise they’re not alone.
A contribution that comes with care
When you join Thrive through this fundraiser, your membership dollars help cover the real costs of creating the Hilarapy web series — from filming and editing to therapeutic facilitation and participant care. At the same time, you step into a living ecosystem of emotional, mental, and spiritual support.
For those whose lives have been affected in any way by substance abuse disorders, your membership not only directly funds the making of the series but also opens access to a variety of unique and vital resources to support their own recovery journey.
With a Thrive membership, you will receive:
- Unlimited access to live support sessions, Q&A, and teachings
- Lizzie Allan’s weekly Transforming Pain Through Laughter session
- Access to community healing spaces and live events
- A rich Cinematherapy Library of feature films and masterclasses
- Early access to Hold On to Your Kids featuring Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld
Help bring Hilarapy to life — while nurturing your own wellbeing.
Your membership is a message:
“I believe in recovery. I believe in laughter. I believe people deserve a second chance.”
Your Thrive membership grants full access to a world of hope and healing
When you become part of Thrive, you’re not just joining a platform — you’re stepping into a year of support designed to help you grow, heal, and live with more clarity and peace.
Through live sessions and the Cinematherapy Library, Thrive supports you to:
- Improve mental, emotional, and physical health
- Reduce stress, anxiety, and overwhelm
- Cultivate inner peace and resilienceStrengthen relationships and communication
- Heal patterns shaped by trauma and shame
- Find meaning, purpose, and direction
- Improve sleep, mood, and nervous-system regulation
Developmental psychologist, bestselling author, and founder of the Neufeld Institute
Physician, trauma and addiction expert, and bestselling author
Indigenous leader, Sundance Chief, and land and water protector, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Thrive Films — the award-winning studio behind Hilarapy — creates cinematic, healing-centred storytelling that amplifies recovery, resilience, and human connection.
Central to this work is Cinematherapy, which transforms viewing from passive consumption into active reflection, insight, and growth. Each episode of Hilarapy is crafted not just to be watched — but to be felt, reflected on, and grown from.
Frequently asked Questions:
Is my membership a donation?
Not exactly. When you join Thrive, you’re purchasing a membership that gives you real value — access to live support sessions, teachings, community events, and more. The membership dollars from this page go directly toward producing the Hilarapy web series. This means you support the series and your own wellbeing at the same time.
What if I can’t afford a membership right now?
Thrive offers a Seed Plan, which is completely free.
You’ll still receive access to select offerings and can participate in the community.
You can also support Hilarapy simply by sharing the campaign with your friends and networks.
What if I’d like to make a larger contribution?
We’re deeply grateful. If you feel called to support the Hilarapy series beyond a Thrive membership, you can make a one-time contribution through our GoFundMe page. Larger gifts help us cover production, participant care, and distribution — and make a meaningful difference in bringing these stories to the world.
What if I’m already a Thrive member?
Thank you — your membership already helps support this work, and we’re deeply grateful.
If you feel called to support the Hilarapy series further, you’re welcome to make an additional contribution through our GoFundMe page, or help by sharing the campaign with others.
Do I need to be in recovery to join Thrive or support Hilarapy?
No. Thrive is for anyone seeking connection, healing, personal growth, and emotional support. You don’t need lived experience with addiction to be part of the community or to support the series.
How does Thrive support people after they watch the series?
Unlike traditional media, Hilarapy connects viewers to Thrive.one, a living platform where they can access ongoing support, community, live sessions, and practical tools for healing — long after the episode ends.
Is my contribution tax-deductible?
No. Thrive memberships and contributions are not tax-deductible because members receive access to services and experiences in return.
How else can I support Hilarapy if I can’t contribute financially?
Sharing this page, talking about the series, and inviting others into the Thrive community are powerful ways to support the project. Community support is what makes Hilarapy possible.
