Therapy For Creatives and Artists
Both creatives and artists can be called creators. Creators are guided by strong desire, almost as if they have no choice but to create. Whether or not it's a source of income, it's the passion and identity that make one a creator.
Creativity comes in many forms. Yet creators across fields share certain mental health challenges. From musicians and dancers, to photographers and business owners, they're led by ambitions which are often at odds with society's expectations. Marching to their own drum, creators are often viewed as outsiders. This leads to unique mental health struggles.
A creator-focused approach to therapy takes into consideration these challenges, and may include the following:
Navigating the highs and lows of the creative process without amplifying manic or depressive episodes
Utilizing your unique creative identity and abilities to address traumas
Developing resilience against systemic issues within industries, such as abusive power dynamics, toxic competitive relationships, or harmful body image expectations
Redefining who and what your creativity is for, so that your self-worth doesn't suffer from public appraisal
Helping performing artists better manage social anxiety and panic attacks
Creators often face such challenges alone and internalize their experience, leading to shame or jaded attitudes towards the world. A creator-focused approach means the therapist can help contextualize these challenges, so that creators can be seen and understood both professionally and personally.
At Wellspring Connection we have focused on the world of creators for this reason. We believe traditional therapy is often uninformed of the nuanced challenges in the spaces that creators exist in, and can overlook the potential that creator's expressive abilities have for powerful healing.
Learn more about how creativity impacts mental health
Not sure if creator-focused therapy is right for you?
View our guide on finding a therapist for your specific needs
Creator-focused therapy is not an expressive arts therapy. Although those techniques may be incorporated, our approach prioritizes working with the world, identity, and lived experiences of creators.