Therapy for Actors, Writers, and Artists

Are you an artist struggling with creative blocks, self-doubt, or low self-esteem? Are the pressures of the entertainment industry getting to you? Do your friends or family have a hard time understanding the highs and lows of your creative life?

Why Do Artists Need Specialized Therapy?

By choosing a creative life, you have embraced creativity and unconventionality. You are brave and adventurous, and you may naturally see beyond what others can. It can be an absolute gift to be an artist, but these gifts are not always without cost. As an artist, you likely face specific pressures and stresses that those with more conventional vocations do not understand.

As an artist, you may struggle with:

• Burnout
• Rejection Sensitivity
• Avoidance or Procrastination
• Relationship Problems
• Stress From Difficult Projects

You may also have difficulties with your artistic projects themselves. When this happens, it can be particularly frustrating because art is usually such a personal, highly meaningful endeavor.

From One Artist to Another

As an artist myself, I get the unique challenges and rewards of devoting oneself to an artistic practice. Before becoming a therapist, I was a dancer. I studied with the Joffrey Ballet, and my first-ever paychecks came from ensemble work in Hollywood. After hanging up my pointe shoes, I later went on to study creative writing in college. So, I mean it when I say that I understand the drive, discipline, and passion required to pursue your art, especially when you confront setbacks or face criticism.

I am also a born and raised Angelino, so I know that being an entertainer in this town can be particularly tough. Rejection happens daily for most creatives in Hollywood, and it can be a real grind to put yourself out there every day only to be told ‘no’ again and again. It’s not a personal failure to admit when it starts to get to you.

My Approach:

I offer a safe and supportive space for artists and entertainment industry professionals to work through the unique joys and sorrows of a creative life. 

My therapeutic approach focuses on:

• Understanding the Artist’s Experience: Your life is likely very different than someone who works a nine-to-five job. Let’s take the time to appreciate the pros and cons of your situation.
• Addressing Mental Health Concerns: Mood, anxiety, or addiction issues can get in the way of your art. If you’re experiencing mood or behavior problems, you deserve to take the time to put a care plan in place.
• Exploring Creative Practices: Identify what facilitates your creative process, versus what contributes to blocks. 
• Build Resilience: Failure and rejection are a part of the creative life, and learning to see them as learning opportunities versus indicators of worth is key.
• Manage Real-World Demands: You may be the next Picasso, Balanchine, or Hemingway, but you still need to pay your rent. Finding balance with your finances, relationships, and schedule is important if you’re to survive as a working artist.
• Find Self-Confidence: Keep the negative self-talk at bay while you learn to value yourself, your time, and your artistic product.

What Should I Expect From Therapy?

The process starts with an initial clinical assessment. During this initial meeting, we talk through your history, your concerns, your goals, and your strengths. We confirm your diagnosis (if applicable) and work together to make a treatment plan, part of which includes determining the best research-backed therapy for you and your situation.

Several research-backed therapies can work well for artists. These include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focus on identifying and changing negative thoughts and behaviors.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Incorporate mindfulness, acceptance, and values-driven decision making to help you improve your mental health.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Learn distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR): Learn advanced self-soothing and grounding skills. You can also make peace with the painful memories of past traumas, and prepare to deal differently with trauma triggers in the future.
• Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM): Learn somatic relaxation and resourcing skills. You can also work on gently confronting triggering thoughts and images.
• Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT): See how your emotional reactions to the world lead to certain cognitive and behavioral patterns, then find new, healthy ways to cope with these feelings.

Once we determine the right therapeutic approach for you and therapy is underway, I welcome your feedback and insights. Your experiences and perspectives are an important part of the process.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Contact me today to schedule a consultation.