I had never acted before in my life, and Scene Lab with Charise was an incredible experience just in my growth as a person. I recommend it to anyone. Thinking about interactions among people in terms of objectives definitely applies outside the stage, and learning to assert what I need from others within the context of a play has helped me "follow through on my lines in life," as Charise would put it. This class was a huge help in getting over my fear of confrontation. There is also something very self-affirming about acting. It isn't "pretending" but finding something real in yourself, your version of the character in this situation, and showing that. You get a lot of chances to explore the way your body's state influences your feelings, and how to control that, but also how you can't fully control that. She says it's not acting therapy but it kind of is.
Charise is very serious about being on time, being fully present, and being prepared. I would even go so far as to say she's a little scary. She demands a lot of you, emotionally, because acting is emotional work. But she absolutely gives you praise when it's due, and her high demands make that even more meaningful. She is an INCREDIBLE actress herself, but she doesn't believe in talent and gives very concrete advice about how to act just as well as she does, down to what muscles in your throat and back to use and how to excercise them.