You only need your own permission.

EXPERIENTIAL

Therapy

for ARTISTS

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Are you a Creative

whose relationship to art-making has been wounded or sidelined in some way?

I offer experiential-based therapy for artists that includes access to a small art studio space at my in-person office as well as a variety of supplies to help you re-engage with your creative practice. You are also welcome to bring your own supplies if you prefer.

There, you can write, draw, paint, collage, meditate, visualize, and talk your way through the blocks that keep you from prioritizing your art. We can use the present moment and messages from the body to notice what comes up for you in this process.

There are a lot of reasons why people stop engaging in creative work.

Maybe you're worried you aren’t talented enough to be an artist. Maybe it feels like there are already so many skilled artists, you can’t imagine having anything of value to contribute. Maybe it feels like everything good has already been done. Maybe you fear rejection, criticism, or ridicule if you express yourself. Maybe you feel that the truth you need to express would cause problems for you in your personal life. Maybe you are worried there is no market for your form of creativity, so you can’t justify spending any time pursuing it. Maybe you fear not being taken seriously or that your work isn't impactful or “deep” enough.

Maybe you grew up believing you were supposed to be exceptional. Maybe you have a fear of failure and making art feels way too risky and uncertain. Maybe your perfectionistic and procrastinating parts are working overtime to protect you from the emotional pain of potential failure and disappointment. Maybe you are afraid of what it would mean if you were successful. Maybe you feel uncomfortable being seen and fear the visibility creative work might bring your way. Maybe you are waiting for the ideal time or the ideal place to show up before you will feel ready to make art again. Maybe you don’t think you have the right discipline, training, workspace, financial freedom, or time for exploration. Maybe you’re afraid about what might surface if you spend time in self-reflection. Maybe you worry it could detract from your responsibilities as a parent. Maybe you think you are too old now, anyway.

Maybe you think you’ll be misunderstood, or ignored. Maybe you feel self-conscious about others thinking your artistic goals are impractical and childish. Maybe people have actually said this to you at some point and you believed them. Maybe you sacrificed your art to the notion of security and responsibility, but this actually didn’t solve that problem in the way you thought it would. Maybe your shame has become so blended with your impulse to create that the idea of unraveling it at this point sounds way too exhausting. Maybe you had to give it up making art because it was becoming too painful.

Maybe it just broke your heart too many times.

As an artist myself, I understand just how important creative self-expression is for those who rely on it to explore and feel connected, understood, relaxed, emotionally regulated…or whatever it is that art gives back to you.

I also know just how quickly a consistent art practice can fall victim to the chaos and urgency of adult life.

My observation into why so many artists become too fearful to create is that they, for one reason or another, become overly focused on what other people will think about what they make.

Many of us feel the need to gain permission from others in order to believe our artistic expression holds value, allowing their validation to fuel our work instead of our own love and innate need for the creative process. This tendency to be other-focused usually shows up in other areas of life as well.

The idea that our art and identity only matter if others approve is disastrous for both creativity and mental health.

Understanding that you can't control how others respond to your work is key to unlocking your creative self-expression and staying true to your own nature.

I can help you find out where things are getting stuck.

Often, it is a combination between the belief that there isn’t enough time and the immense amount of pressure artists put on themselves to make something “worthy enough” for public consumption. We forget to make art because it is enjoyable, humanizing, and good for us. We lose the drive to make art for ourselves, believing it is a waste of time or self-indulgent if it can’t be monetized.

I understand how painful this can feel when your sense of self worth is blended with your artist identity and the external validation your work provides. The process that once was healing and cathartic becomes damaging and obsessive.

To unbind your creativity from detrimental external forces, you must actively rebel against these narratives

Because the societal messages that you aren’t good enough are everywhere - and they aren’t leaving anytime soon.

It starts with acknowledging the wound and how it came into being,

and then making your art without permission to remember that you can - that it isn’t “wrong”, or selfish, or dangerous to do so.

You are the only one who can take ownership of your right to exist and have a voice.

This is a loving act that reveres your humanity.

Whatever it is, turning towards the situation with curiosity and compassion can make all the difference.

So let’s make time for it.

If you show up, so will I.

We can make tea, listen to music, cut up art magazines for collage, or start with a journal prompt check in. I could begin session with a guided visualization to help you explore your internal landscape and notice the parts of yourself that need attention. Maybe you end up creating a paper mache mask personifying your inner art critic. Maybe we review artwork you have created previously to help us understand you better and find meaning in your past experiences. The possibilities are truly endless.

It is your time to work with, and you will lead the way. I will provide an inspiring workspace, a variety of materials and options, and my presence and abilities as a therapist.

Sometimes just changing your environment, exploring art with curiosity and playfulness (like you did when you were a kid), and having the accountability to your appointment time can help clear your mind and build motivation to keep going.

“You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes to you.

This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation.

At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.”

― Joseph Campbell

An Important Clarification:

I provide therapy for artists, NOT Art Therapy.

There is a distinction between being a credentialed art therapist (ATR) and providing experiential therapy for artists. As a therapist working with artists to address issues of creative block, self-expression, and self-esteem, my focus is on supporting individuals in navigating the emotional challenges that may arise from their creative pursuits. I am not an art therapist utilizing the Expressive Therapies Continuum as a method of assessment for treatment.

While I am not a certified art therapist, I understand the unique struggles that artists often encounter and provide a safe space for them to explore and address these issues.

By acknowledging this difference, I aim to underscore the value of tailored support for individuals in the creative community who may benefit from a licensed professional counselor with a studio art background, as well as clear up any confusion about the services I provide.

“My responsibility is not to the ordinary, or the timely. It does not include mustard, or teeth. It does not extend to the lost button, or the beans in the pot.

My loyalty is to the inner vision, whenever and howsoever it may arrive.”

— Mary Oliver

INTERESTED?

I offer a complimentary 15 min consultation to see if I could be the right therapist for you.