Creative Blocks

Creative Block is the inability to access the flowing stream of inspiration and creativity. What was once an overflowing well of ideas may now feel like an endless drought. It can last for days, months, or even years at a time. Creative Block may affect many individuals, but those most affected are in creative professions, such as writers, musicians, artists and performers. It can surface when an artists embarks on a new series of paintings, or when a writer is in the midst of a novel.

Psychological Issues Caused by Creative Block
Common Causes of Creative Block
How Psychotherapy Can Help with Creative Block
Types of Therapy that Can Help with Creative Block
Creative Block after Death of Mother - Case Example

Psychological Issues Caused by Creative Block

Creative Block is a temporary condition, but it can feel like an eternity, since creating represents living breath to the artist. This may cause anxiety about their ability to create in the future. Producing and creating also plays a crucial role in the identity of the artist. Therefore, Creative Block can have a traumatic impact on their self-esteem, leaving them vulnerable to attacks of self-doubt and self-criticism. This may lead to depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behaviors, such as self-medicating and addictions. Fortunately, Creative block eventually subsides and the artist is allowed to return doing what he or she loves most - creating.

Common Causes of Creative Block

• A death of a loved one or ending of a relationship

• Lack of financial support

• Depletion of all creative energy after a fully immersed period of creating

• Doubtful of one's ability and talent

• Repeated rejection of one's work

• Anxious about the expectations of a project

• Need for perfection

• Over dependency on substances to be creative

• Onset of an illness or medical condition

• A sudden loss of meaning and purpose in one's work

• Negative self-talk or criticism

How Psychotherapy Can Help with Creative Block

Clients may perceive this lapse of creativity as a detriment to their creative careers, as well as their sense of self. Psychotherapy can offer a safe place to freely explore their concerns and feelings around not producing. Normalizing the client's experience and reframing any distorted perceptions around his or her current condition can greatly alleviate any anxiety or panic.

Clients struggling with Creative Block may enter therapy initially complaining of depression or anxiety. In addition to the standard treatment plan for depression or anxiety, the therapist should also take into consideration how the lack of creating contributes to the client's symptoms. Creativity is the life force of the creative person, therefore lack of it can greatly affect the client's mental, spiritual and emotional state.

Psychotherapy can greatly benefit the individual struggling with Creative Block. They can learn to embrace the ebb and flow of creative energy, as being a natural part of the creative process. Within this safe environment, the client gains insight into potential underlying causes. The therapist who fully understands the creative process can assist the client in developing appropriate coping skills. Therefore, the client will be better equipped to work through Creative Block the next time it surfaces.

Types of Therapy that Can Help with Creative Block

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy puts the issue of Creative Block at the forefront and will help the client see the connection between their thoughts and behavior. A Mindfulness Based Approach will also assist in seeing connections between thoughts and behavior, but will also help the individual disengage from negative thoughts that are perpetuating the problem. Art Therapy is a great tool in transcending Creative Blocks because it will help the individual to use their difficult time as a tool to inspire creativity and work through the issues that is making thinking creativity difficult to achieve.

Creative Block after Death of Mother - Case Example

Robin, age 39, a writer and author of several best sellers, enters therapy with symptoms of depression and anxiety, which is affecting her ability to write. She complains that she is unable to maintain motivation and inspiration to continue work on her current novel. She also expressed the lack of passion for her craft and fears she's all dried up creatively. Robin feels anxious and frustrated by the creative paralysis, which overwhelms her when she sits in front of the computer in an attempt to write. As the therapist further explores how other aspects of her life are going, Robin shares that her mother passed away a year ago. She also expresses that she spent most of her life trying to gain approval and recognition from her mother by working hard to be a successful writer. She doesn't understand why she lost the drive to write ever since her death. The therapist normalizes what she is experiencing and helps her make the connection between her mother's death and a sudden onset of Creative Block. The therapist helps the client not only process any unresolved grief around her mother's death, but also helps the client attach a new meaning and purpose to her writing. This helps to renew motivation and inspiration needed for her to write once again.

~Content provided by Topic Expert Lisa Riley, http://theartofmind.com

Last updated: 12-19-2011