What is Creativity Coaching?

Creativity Coaching is a specialty focusing on the subject of creativity and addresses challenges specific to artists, writers and creative professionals. Creative challenges can range from how to start, fear of rejection, the inner critic, creative blocks, and how to market creative work, to resistance and procrastination, time management, and inspiration. The Austin Creativity Coach works with creative professionals and entrepreneurs to help them reach their goals faster but also works with self-proclaimed “non-artists” to help them understand the value of a creative practice in their everyday life and the corporate world.

What is a Creativity Coach?

A Creativity Coach is trained and knowledgeable on how to work with artists, writers and creative professionals. A Creativity Coach is a personal cheerleader, advocate, and accountability partner that helps clients recognize their individual challenge areas and create a plan to achieve their goals. A Creativity Coach is not a licensed therapist (although some therapists are certified creativity coaches). If a client is seeing a licensed therapist, The Austin Creativity Coach recommends speaking with them before starting Creativity Coaching.

The Austin Creativity Coach also helps clients:

• cultivate curiosity and encourages the use of creativity exercises before and after coaching sessions
• manage career, networking, and online marketing challenges specific to creative professionals
• develop a creative practice to increase mindfulness and a healthier work-life balance

What happens during a Creativity Coaching Session?

The Austin Creativity Coach conducts sessions via email, phone, and video chat (Skype/Zoom). The client comes prepared with a specific challenge to discuss during the session. The Austin Creativity Coach uses active listening, paraphrasing, and open-ended questions to discuss the main challenge and other issues that may come up then provides respectful feedback to help the client come up with SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely that are used to help overcome the challenges they face. Before the end of the session there is time for reflection, summarizing insights, and reviewing goals. At the end of the session it’s important to schedule the next coaching session to ensure forward momentum.

How many Coaching Sessions are recommended?

The number of sessions required for a client to overcome a specific challenge is unique to the individual. Some clients prefer to schedule a half-day intensive to work on several challenges then take months to work on their goals and return for a “maintenance” 45-min session as needed. Other creative professionals take advantage of the multi session package when they have a specific deadline; a gallery exhibit, a first draft or other book deadline, or upcoming book tour where meeting on a weekly basis helps keep them accountable to their goal. Other creative professionals find that (3) 1-hour sessions spread out over several months is enough to get them over a particular resistance and procrastination challenge. Although creative professionals require solitude to work, challenges come up and it’s best to seek help sooner rather than later.

Additional Questions?

Do you have a question about Creativity Coaching? Use the Contact Us form to send in your question.