Therapy for Artists: 3 Things Getting in the Way of Your Creativity
The World is Often Unkind to Creatives
Creatives face many challenges. Many are highly sensitive to the subtle changes in their environment and notice things that others may miss.
At the highest levels, artists are idolized and at the same time expected to consistently deliver art on a schedule. On the other end of the spectrum, artists just starting out and building their craft are often conditioned to feel shame when their work doesn’t meet standards.
The trope of the struggling artist keeps creatives from owning their worth and striving towards mental health. Artists internalize the message that becoming more mentally healthy will destroy their creativity.
As a therapist who works with creatives, I am here to share that this is a myth.
Therapy does not erase human experience, it helps you make sense of it. Everything that makes your art unique will still exist when pain eases.
Here are the real creativity killers and how creatives can begin to notice and overcome them. (Hint: therapy can help.)
These 3 Things are Creativity Killers
Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk is an inner critic that hasn’t embraced the messy process of creativity and shares feedback too soon. This type of thinking causes creatives to lose energy and motivation.
Think of it this way: if you told a child their artwork was terrible and expressed every mistake you could find, would you expect them to be motivated to keep making art?
…probably not.
If you wouldn’t say it to someone else, don’t say it to yourself. If you notice your inner critic being negative, pause, and let another voice stand up for you. The same way you might stand up for someone else.
Therapy can help creatives slow down and notice when these thoughts are popping up then strengthen the voice that stands up to them.
Comparing Yourself to Others
When you compare yourself to someone else, you fail to see the strengths and style that makes your art unique.
Comparing can look like trying to make your art more like someone else’s or feeling you are ‘doing it wrong’ when you make mistakes. It can also look like keeping tabs on the success of others and feeling down when you aren’t reaching the same success markers.
Your art will be it’s best when it is uniquely yours. Your journey is beautiful because it is yours. Every time you make art, you are expressing yourself and building skills. Allow yourself to see the value in that.
Therapy can help you focus in on your strengths and turn down the noise that comes with comparing yourself to others.
Perfectionism
Many creatives get stuck on what is wrong with their work. The mistakes. The techniques they haven’t mastered yet. The character they aren’t sure what to do with.
These are traps that keep you from continuing your artistic exploration.
You’re allowed to use a placeholder, come back to the thing you’re stuck on, or let good enough be enough.
Stopping every time perfectionism flares up kills creative momentum. Noticing that it is happening and choosing to move forward anyway allows you to stay active and make progress. Many times, the solution will present itself.
Therapy helps creatives identify the root cause of perfectionism and explore ways of letting it go. Many artists find that when they are able to move past perfectionistic habits, they have more energy and become more productive.
Are You Ready to Address These Challenges With the Help of a Therapist For Creatives?
I help creatives identify the challenges in their workflow and find more ease and confidence in their creative process. If this fits with you and you would like support, I would love the chance to meet you!
Follow the link below to schedule a free consultation. I look forward to chatting with you about how I can help with your unique needs!