Daniel Aponte Prypchan is a performer, director, writer and men’s self-expression coach.

At 28, Daniel’s broad-based performance abilities have secured him leading roles in high-profile entertainment forums including the multi award-winning opera DEAD MAN WALKING, lead actor in CA-CHI-PUN, a third-prize winner of the World’s largest Short film festival TROPFEST, as well as musical performances in RENT,THE MUSICAL & SWEENEY TODD.

Daniel has written, produced, performed in and directed a number of plays, films and musicals. He directed HIT AND RUN for the 2007 Short & Sweet Festival in Sydney; co-wrote, directed and performed in the multi-media Tango-Opera An/nA at the 2006 Festival; and wrote FRACTURED and the comedy TALKING TO KATE, which were both performed at the Newtown Theatre in Sydney, Australia.

Daniel also produced the entertainment segment for the 2006 Sokka Gakkai International Peace Conference in Sydney and was Master of Ceremonies for the Sydney Harbor Latin Fiesta in 2007.

He is currently working on producing the Save the Male Project, a project to transform the collective consciousness around the expression of masculinity today by coaching men to write plays about their experiences and produce the plays in high-profile forums.

Daniel’s professional training includes two years of acting/directing with Lynette Sheldon and intensive classical opera voice training with Steve Ostrow (who discovered and trained Bette Midler, Peter Allen and Barry Manilow). Daniel is also a graduate of Screenwise Acting School with Denise Roberts. A trained dancer and Samba teacher, Daniel has performed in the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and was recently profiled in the Internet-based comedy show Winston Fingers. Currently he is working with renowned director/acting coach Annie Swan and Australia’s leading opera producer, Nicole Alexander. Daniel’s performing abilities have recently won him the 3rd Prize for The City of Sydney Best World Song competition for his interpretation of “El Amor” by Jose Luis Perales.

…on Psychiatry

Self-expression being my number one passion, I am a committed and passionate proponent of the idea that artistic expression brings many benefits to people, especially those with mental illness. I believe that by expressing themselves through artistic outlets, they can be freed from any limitations their condition places on them. In addition, their artistic output, often of great quality, can transform all people’s views on a situation, can strengthen our connection to our humanity, shedding light into our human experience.

Furthermore, I firmly believe that there is an intense relationship between psychiatric conditions, philosophical understanding and the artistic expression of the human experience.

…on Philosophy

Philosophy inspires us to greater goodness; philosophy teaches us about what we are and what we should aspire to be. It reflects the thoughts of our kind, humankind. In this I see that philosophical understanding is interrelated to psychological and psychiatric conditions, as they are expressions of the human experience and therefore philosophical in nature.

…on the Arts

In my training and experience as a singer, actor and director, I have become aware of how philosophical thought becomes obvious in the experience of the arts. The arts show us what human beings are about, the things that are important to us and reflect our sensitivities. In art we see how the human emotions are a collective experience that we are all capable of feeling and that goes beyond wars and resentment.

…on Psychiatry

Cristina Prypchan is currently completing a master’s degree in counseling at the University of Wyoming, to be followed by a doctorate degree in family therapy. Prior to moving to the United States, she worked in Venezuela for 25 years as a psychiatrist in diverse settings, including emergency, geriatrics, substance abuse, and an acute psychotic unit.

As a psychiatrist, she managed medications more than she did psychotherapy. As a counselor, she will work more in psychotherapy and the psychological factors of mental illness. For her, family therapy is an important aspect of her future practice because she is convinced that many psychological problems are generated within the family.

She graduated as a Medical Doctor at Universidad de Carabobo in Venezuela in 1982. For two years, she worked as an intern in a Psychiatric Residency Training Program at Hospital Psiquiátrico de Bárbula in Venezuela. In 1984, she was admitted to the Universidad Central de Venezuela’s Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Hospital Vargas. She completed a Course in Hospital Management for Physicians at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Administration (IESA) in 1986. In 1987, she received the degree of Specialist in Psychiatry.

Her first job was as an attending psychiatrist for AIDS patients and their families at OPLSIDA (Agency for the war against AIDS), a program sponsored by the World Health Organization. For two years, she worked wholeheartedly in the areas of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, including AIDS.

From 1993 to 1994, she worked as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and actively participated in four ICD-10 Field Trials sponsored by the World Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization under the supervision of Dr. Juan Mezzich as the Principal Investigator.

…on Philosophy

She has practiced the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin since 1989. This practice changed her outlook on life. Today, she is more optimistic and compassionate while fighting to realize her dreams. One of her dreams is to work in family therapy and to be useful and happy in United States.

…on the Arts

She enjoys literature and visual arts. She believes that writers and movie directors are the best psychiatrists because they explore people’s inner worlds.