Therapy for Creatives + Performers

Therapy For Creatives

If you are a creative person, it’s not uncommon for your emotions to play a very important, critical role in your life. But, if mental health issues have you neglecting your health, and you’re starting to lose interest or concentration on your art, it’s time to take a look at what’s going on inside.

You should not have to sacrifice your well-being in order to pursue and express your creativity.

Maybe too many old, deeper issues and memories are getting in the way of expressing your true self and being the best you can be creatively? Therapy can help you work this out.

Therapy can help you identify the exact issues that are holding you back and provide tools so you can be your best, most creative self. There are excellent therapies such as EMDR and neurofeedback that can expedite the therapeutic process so you can find relief quickly and without years of therapy.

Therapy For Creatives - What Is It & How I Can Help

If everyday life is getting complicated, whether it be anxiety management, finances, relationship issues, or stress, therapy for actors, musicians, writers, artists, influencers and dancers can help. When we work together, I help you identify your strengths and harness them to improve your life.

As you begin to understand your unique creative flow, we can work together to enhance your creativity while restoring balance to your life. Once we know where your creativity comes from, we can discuss the skills and techniques you will need to start being more productive. Both your private life and your work life can thrive without you exhausting yourself.

And many people in Hollywood reach points in their career where the pressure becomes too much. Writer’s strikes, the pandemic, harsh criticism and judgment all add up. You may feel like it’s time to explore a new identity or career path. How can you do this without shutting down your true self?

We can work on all of this in therapy and more. Below are some of the most common ways I have worked with creatives over the past 30 years. Being born and raised in southern California, I understand the lifestyle and limitations of Hollywood. If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, identity, career transitions or trauma, I would love to help you.

Dealing with Rejection

Dealing with rejection is a classic Hollywood challenge. Everyone is told “no” a lot. And, it can bring up really old, even childhood issues when left unmanaged. Anxiety, perfectionism, and crippling self-doubt can really put a stop to your creative process, resulting in creative blocks, failed auditions, and lost opportunities. Even body image issues can resurface.

When you don’t have a process to manage rejection, overtime it causes you to lose confidence in yourself. The mounting pressure to “get over it” and “move on” can feel insurmountable. Creative people can start to dread their own creative expression, feeling harshly judged, uninspired and burned out.

Rejection can feel like a criticism of who you are. Then, continuing to pursue your art just feels too vulnerable. Therapy for artists can help you move through these feelings so you come out on the other side.

Anxiety

It’s wonderful when your audience values your work. However, putting yourself out there opens you up to those who will also judge your work and have no problem saying whatever they think! You can feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster, feeling validated and understood one minute, then drained, inadequate and exposed the next minute. Sometimes, feeling this angst and pressure can motivate creative people to create their best work. But dealing with the stress of it can be terrible for your health. With so many pressures that are associated with success and prosperity, as well as failure, you have to learn to navigate unique challenges. Therapy, EMDR and neurofeedback can help you set boundaries, work on your relationship with money, deal with difficult people and manage stress. That way, you don’t take it out on yourself or loved ones. As you get better and better at dealing with stressors, your self-esteem will improve. As you feel better about yourself, both your personal and professional relationships will strengthen.

ADHD

It is common for people with ADHD & learning disorders (LD) to be highly creative and have higher-than-average intelligence. You have very special strengths to offer the world. Unfortunately, you probably often feel misunderstood. Therapy can support visual thinking & creativity, which help you build and use your unique skills. Common ADHD/LD challenges include buzzing thoughts, thinking differently, feeling disorganized, losing motivation, procrastination, feeling bored, daydreaming, inability to focus and not feeling smart enough or good enough.

Peak Performance

Peak performance refers to a level of exceptional functioning where you perform at your highest level while feeling self-confident, focused and immersed ‘in the zone’. When things get in the way of achieving peak performance, therapy can provide support, skills and understanding. Tools like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing EMDR and neurofeedback are very helpful. These methods improve attention and concentration, self-confidence, self-regulation, resiliency, imagery, and arousal level and decrease depression, worry and rumination. The benefits of these methods result in improved performance in your creative endeavors.

Imposter syndrome

What you might not realize is that ADHD/LD also provides you with incredible super-powers! When we work together, we identify your unique strengths and talents so that you can accept and appreciate yourself. This is the formula that sets you up for success and gives you the stamina and fortitude to handle criticism and rejection as you pursue your craft.

Dealing With Difficult People

Getting better at dealing with difficult people can improve self-esteem. There is a difference between being aggressive and learning to be assertive. You can learn communication techniques that will help you and therefore, improve your anxiety and depression.


I Will Teach You The Techniques & Skills Required To Get Back On Track

  • Mindfulness
  • Breathing techniques
  • Journaling
  • Communication Techniques
  • Affirmations
  • Creating a positive, caring community

What Does The Creative Therapy Process Look Like?

The first few sessions are spent pinpointing issues and discovering your strengths. Everyone is unique, so time must be spent getting to know you at a deeper level. We discuss what might help you and develop a plan. As we carry out our plan, we will find what helps. EMDR, neurofeedback, meditation, improving communication and assertiveness are all examples of methods we might agree to try. These are all powerful tools that, alone or in combination, can really help. Just remember, in most cases it took you years and years to become who you are. So, to make real changes, you will need to commit to some time. Give yourself the time you need to transform.

Therapy For Creatives: Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)

Mental health can affect creativity both positively and negatively. You might channel your angst into your creative expression. Or, you feel too anxious or depressed to get anything done. It’s important to talk about your process and how to best support you and improve your situation.

There is some evidence to support this. Creatives can be more prone to depression, since the world we live in often does not support the alternative lifestyles that promote creativity. Also, being creative can often result in being more in touch with your feelings, something that isn’t honored and encouraged in our society. As a result, you can feel “different” and on the fringe of society. Finding the right community where you fit in and are supported will be key to your mental health. Achieving success can be a mixed bag. You can feel overwhelmed in both good and bad ways. It’s a great feeling to be appreciated creatively and to make money. It can also be a difficult transition that changes your life in unexpected ways, sometimes causing stress and anxiety. Getting paid as a creative person can also be a real challenge. This struggle can lead to feeling inadequate and depressed. Staying positive in the light of financial struggle can be difficult and a good problem to work on in therapy.

Anxiety is the physical and mental manifestation of fear. Fear can cause so much stress that it impairs the ability to let your creativity flow. When you are in fear, it is very difficult to feel safe. You are too busy worrying, feeling unhappy or stressed and in fight-flight-freeze-fawn mode. Safety allows the creative channels to open and creates the space you need to freely and openly express yourself. It allows you to fully devote yourself to your art. Neurofeedback and EMDR are very good methods to improve anxiety. It improves self-confidence and builds resiliency.
With pressures to perform, memorize lines and deal with difficult people, the demands of an acting career can be exhausting. Anxiety and depression can be difficult to deal with. Success might leave you feeling alone or too busy, having to learn to say no, and pressured to continue to get parts and prove yourself. Acting can be so exhilarating, yet so frustrating and deflating when parts and auditions don’t come through. How can you weather the ups and downs, the big life transitions and pressures of being recognized, that come with an acting career? Therapy can help you learn the necessary skills and treat the underlying anxiety and depression that can get in the way.


Therapy is a very useful tool for actors.  It helps you notice and identify what you are feeling and understand yourself at a deep level. This will help you have deeper insight as you develop your characters.

 

Mental health issues can get in the way, so therapy will bring healing so you can be your best self.  This enhances self-esteem, builds confidence and helps you advocate for yourself and feel more self-assured. You want to give your best performance, avoiding intrusive mental health issues that keep you from achieving your goals

Get Help Today

My therapy practice is located in California and I see clients in my Santa Monica and Torrance offices. If you’re looking for help, please reach out to me. I do not have a wait list and can schedule clients quickly. My practice is cash-based which means I do not accept insurance at this time.


You can reach me directly at 310-314-6933 or email me at mindy@mftherapy.com.  If you are in a true emergency, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text NSPL at 988.

  • My therapy practice is located in California and I see clients in my Santa Monica and Torrance offices. If you’re looking for help, please reach out to me. I do not have a waitlist and can schedule clients quickly. My practice is cash-based which means I do not accept insurance at this time.
  • You can reach me directly at 310-314-6933 or email me at mindy@mftherapy.com.  If you are in a true emergency, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text NSPL at 988.
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