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<\/a><\/p>\nDo you have a therapist?<\/strong><\/p>\n If so, perhaps one of these thoughts may have occurred to you at one time or another:<\/p>\n Whenever you become aware of having any of these thoughts or feelings, my first recommendation is:\u00a0talk to your therapist about them<\/i>. This is a really important part of therapy, and the more you can be open with your therapist about your feelings and thoughts about and towards her (or him), the more you’re likely to gain from therapy.<\/p>\n And hopefully, these feelings are rooted in your own anxieties. A good therapist tries to make sure she is \u2018filling her own cup\u2019, nourishing herself with a creative and fulfilling life. This way, your therapist will have plenty of attention, care and energy to devote to\u00a0you<\/i>\u00a0in turn.<\/p>\n Of course, therapists, like the rest of us, aren’t immune to the trials and tribulations of human life. They too need supportive, loving relationships outside of the therapy room, to help them weather the storms – and deepen the joys and delights – of living.<\/p>\nHow does a therapist 'fill her own cup' so she has more to give? <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n Therapists need creative outlets<\/b><\/p>\n Therapists also need creative outlets, ways in which they can nurture their own deepest creative self, and reflect on and process what\u2019s going on for them.<\/p>\n I contacted seven therapists and asked them how they nurture their own creativity. Here\u2019s what they told me.<\/p>\n Lisa Mitchell, a Art Psychotherapist in Fairoaks, California, USA<\/strong>, is also an artist.\u00a0Lisa is passionate about using creativity in therapy, and in life generally. \u201cThe most important part of nurturing my creativity is to stay in conscious relationship to my creative process. That means seeing everything I do through an artist’s lens. Artists have an ease with uncertainty, so when I come across that in my life or in my work with clients, I remind myself of a painting process and say, “You don’t need to know what it’s going to be before you start. Just focus on the process, and trust that there is not a wrong way.”<\/p>\n Lisa feels it\u2019s vital to give herself a lot of space and self reflection time. \u201cCreativity needs to breathe and live, and without walks, visual journaling, quiet contemplation, it gets blocked. Whenever I feel particularly stuck with a client or in my own creative process, I do what so many other creatives do….go for a long walk in nature\u201d.<\/p>\n Lisa\u2019s book, Creativity as Co-Therapist, will be coming out in January 2016. Check out her website at\u00a0www.innercanvas.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Laura Hollywood is a counsellor in London, UK<\/strong>.\u00a0Laura finds nurture and replenishment through enjoying a range of art forms. Laura told me, \u201cI love to get inspired and revitalised by going to sculpture exhibitions, and at least yearly to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. I also love theatre and dance, and one of the benefits of living in London is the variety available\u201d.<\/p>\n Find Laura at\u00a0www.laurahollywood.com<\/a>.<\/p>\nHow do therapists connect to their creativity - and why? <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n Elly Taylor, a psychotherapist in Sydney, Australia<\/strong>, works with expecting parents internationally to prepare them for the normal and common changes to life and love that come with parenthood.<\/p>\n Elly is also a writer. She explains what writing does for her: \u201cI love to get those swirling thoughts out of my head and down on paper, there\u2019s something validating about seeing them in black and white. Writing helps me clear \u201cstuff\u201d, think things through and, most importantly for me, lets the emotions come up, wash through me and then settle. I\u2019ll find my old writings and reflect back on them, sometimes thinking \u201cgeez, this is still an issue for me\u201d, or others: \u201cso glad that I\u2019ve moved through that\u201d.<\/p>\n Elly\u2019s latest book is \u2018Becoming Us: 8 Ways to Grow a Family That Thrives\u2019, and her website is\u00a0www.ellytaylor.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fiona Fitzpatrick, an Art Therapist, is also based in Sydney, Australia<\/strong>. Fiona finds it very rewarding to support her own creativity through small moments of art making every day. \u201cEvery morning for 5-10 minutes, I might colour-in a mandala, do a bit of collage or puddle about with some paint.\u00a0 I work small.\u00a0 Over time, all these \u201cmarks\u201d add up to a finished image or series of little creative expressions. There\u2019s a great sense of satisfaction and pleasure in those moments of creative flow, kind of like my own kind of meditation. \u00a0My breathing deepens, thoughts slow down and I am quiet and still.\u00a0 It\u2019s good medicine and I\u2019m a better therapist when I take my daily dose\u201d.<\/p>\n Contact Fiona at\u00a0www.livingbeyondcancer.au<\/a>.<\/p>\nA therapist explains why she makes art for 5 minutes every day. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n Jessica Fowler, a therapist in Rochester, NY, USA,<\/strong>\u00a0told me, \u201cI have always enjoyed “crafting” and writing as my two creative outlets. However several years ago I stopped, not really on purpose but it just happened over time.\u00a0Since having kids, I spend more time in craft stores – and that has inspired me to create more. I started sewing again, which lead to my first craft show!\u201d<\/p>\n Find Jessica at\u00a0www.jflcounselingservices.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Amy Sugeno, a counsellor in Marble Falls, Texas, USA<\/strong>, creates through music:<\/p>\n \u201cI love to write songs I can sing with my acoustic guitar. I write and sing as a way to help me express and process the heartbreak and the beauty of what I hear and experience from my therapist chair. Some people think our work is depressing. And while it is often very difficult, we are also so lucky to get rare glimpses into the most poignant, real, and sacred aspects of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n Amy\u2019s website is\u00a0www.amysugenocounseling.com<\/a>.<\/p>\nTherapist: 'Singing helps me express and process the heartbreak and the beauty of client work' <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n Michelle Tapia, a psychotherapist in Northridge, CA., USA<\/strong>, also uses music: \u201cit helps me change my moods\u201d. When she’s dealing with difficult feelings, Michelle practises what she preaches: \u201cI do all of the things that I recommend to my clients. For example, when I am angry or sad I create mandalas because I feel such a sense of relief and peace when I am done\u201d.<\/p>\n Check out Michelle at\u00a0www.innerconflicts.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n