Q: Is creativity coaching a form of therapy? Are coaches therapists?
A: No. Most coaches will work with you to help you understand various aspects of your experiences that could be a factor in your ability to achieve goals. Underlying reasons such as anxiety, fears self-esteem and motivation are often reasons that prevent us from moving forward. Many creativity coaches are willing to talk about your past and what influence it may have on your present challenge. The goal here is not to emotionally heal you, though often this is a benefit, as a therapist does but simply to help you gain a deeper perspective on how your past might influence your creative work.
Q: What issues can coaches help me with?
A: Coaches can help artists, photographers, writers, performers, and many types of creative people explore creativity challenges, anxieties and fears with the objective of a more rewarding and effective experience. We'll work together to discover what's working, what's not working, learn how to work consistently, create meaning, learn how to stay with a project, how to overcome many of the common psychological and personal blocks that prevent you from doing your best work, and how to complete projects and prepare yourself to show them to the outside world.
Q: Is creativity coaching the same as life coaching?
A: No, not really. People trained as life coaches, or emply many of the same skills as a creativity coach. Life coaches are not specifically trained or knowledgeable about working with artists, writers, and other creative professions as creativity coaches. I trained as a life coach with a specialization in creativity as this represents my exeprience as an individual who is an artist. As a result I am aware and can faciliate the issues that that creative work often brings up such as where to find ideas, how to decide what idea to work on, how to develop an idea, how to market creative work, how to find an artistic community, and so on. What's I am able to provide that other creativity coaches cannot is the ability to go beyond solutions. Creativity and life are not two separate experiences. In order to whole the two need to be integrated for a rewarding life.
Q: Do creativity coaches act as "agents" to help me sell my work?
A: No. Coaches are not agents or managers, and there are many differences. My goal is to help you find your creative rhythm. By helping you to understand your particular creative urges, find your voice, and produce your best work. Coaches do not get involved in getting your book published or representing you to a gallery, publishing house or producer. Also, creativity coaches do not take a cut of your sales as agents or managers do.
Q: Are creativity coaches certified?
A: No. Presently at this time there is no certification for this profession. Many members of the Creativity Coaching Association have been trained by Eric Maisel, Ph.D., who is considered to be one of the founders of the profession.