Overcoming Creative Blocks: How Hypnotherapy Unlocks Your Artistic Flow

As artists, flow state is a magical place inside us where our imagination is free to run wild from blank page to blank canvas to spotlit stage. But at times, the flow is frozen. And in those times, the blank page becomes a block of impenetrable ice.

I know artists from a variety of creative avenues who have found themselves frozen, blocked, trapped in this cold space. I’ve certainly been there as well, having worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood for over twenty years - developing concept after concept with a myriad of producers, directors, and executives. It’s almost impossible for the creative well not to run dry from time to time.

Now perhaps, it’s just mental fatigue that’s got you stuck, in which case the best thing to do might just be to step away from your computer for a day or even a few. Spend time with loved ones or friends. Take a walk in nature. Take a trip. Go to the beach. Go get some exercise. Whatever it is that brings you joy, go be with that and allow your imagination to recharge so you can return to your page with fresh eyes and a clear mind. If that’s the case, wonderful! Get back to it and enjoy! For the rest of you, you’ll want to keep reading.

Iceberg, right ahead!

Earlier, I used the words ‘frozen’ and ‘impenetrable ice’. That wasn’t just for the sake of having some fun with flowery language. These words relate to a great analogy for how your mind operates. Imagine your mind is an iceberg. Part of it is floating above the water. We’ll call this your conscious mind. This is where you hold what you’re aware of and thinking about in the moment.

But the larger part of the iceberg is underwater. Frozen inside of that part are your memories, your belief systems, your habits. This is your subconscious. As an artist, there is a better than even chance that you have endured a lot of rejection over the years. Or perhaps, you’ve just come to feel invisible because no one ever reads or responds to your work - be it writing, painting, or any number of art forms. Either way, these perceived failures take a toll on your mind and spirit. Consequently, a new belief system takes shape in that block of subconscious ice - one in which you believe will be judged, ignored, or rejected. In turn, you become anxious. Maybe you procrastinate. Maybe you sink into depression. No matter what, it’s a flow killer. And this is just one of many negative patterns that could be chiseled into the ice below. Among the others: perfectionism paralysis, imposter syndrome, fear of success.

Now, being consciously aware of these challenging beliefs is important and can be very helpful in the moment. However, it is unlikely to bring about lasting change without 100% thought and effort 100% of the time for a long enough period that it becomes a habit. The conscious mind is not designed for that. It’s focused on the short term. Not saying it can’t be done, but that kind of sustained effort is difficult, so there’s a good chance that you may come up short. And if you do, you may find yourself feeling defeated and change may seem even more daunting and unlikely.

Melting the Ice

If at first you don’t succeed, then try and try again - but this time, let’s try it with hypnotherapy. Grab your mask and scuba tank and dive deep into the recesses of that underwater iceberg. The water can get pretty dark and murky below the surface and the size of the iceberg can be overwhelming. With so many memories and beliefs frozen into the ice, it’s hard to know where to even start. That’s where a hypnotherapist can shine a light and help you melt some of that ice away and carve out some healthier habits and beliefs to support your imagination and goals.

The process begins with a consultation call. Find a hypnotherapist with whom you feel a rapport, one that you feel like you can trust, because for hypnotherapy to be effective, you will need trust, the will to change, and belief in the process. Once you find your hypnotherapist, you’ll sit down with them and talk through the changes you’re seeking.

For those of you new to hypnosis, let me also assure you that there’s nothing to be nervous about. You’re not going to the moon. In fact, the state of the subconscious we will be exploring is in the same mental neighborhood we visit when we’re in the shower, on a long drive, or right before we fall asleep. And you should also be aware that during this process - although a hypnotherapist is with you on the path - you are always in control.

Back to those frozen beliefs I mentioned, the ones carved into your subconscious ice. During this deep dive, we can take a chisel and edit them. Through hypnotherapy, we take your impostor narrative of "I'm not talented enough" and reframe it into "My voice is unique and has value." We can also melt away the perfectionism that keeps your work trapped in endless revision tundra.

To be clear, you’re not deceiving yourself or creating false confidence. This process is about creating a healthier relationship with your creative process, one where your internal feedback system supports you instead of sabotaging you.

Master your Flow

Don't wait for inspiration. Through hypnotherapy, you can learn to channel that flow state whenever you want or need to. As I mentioned earlier, this can happen consciously, but you have to exert more effort to establish the habit there. Here, in the subconscious, we build creative rituals into your mental foundation to make those habits feel like home much more easily. We might visualize your ideal creative space or a create a series of small movements that tell your nervous system "okay, it's time to flow.”

Overcoming Specific Creative Challenges

Procrastination can present as laziness, but in fact its underpinnings are often based in fear of not being good enough, fear of being too good, or fear of finishing something and having to put it out into the world. Hypnotherapy helps us thaw out your iceberg to take a closer look at your psyche. No matter what your medium may be, we can work through that resistance by understanding what it really is and why it’s there.

Practical Creative Applications

When we get out of our own way, the skies opens up for us.

Hypnotherapy can help you do that in a multitude of ways:

For writers - clean up a convoluted plot or connect with your characters to elevate your story.

For actors, dancers, musicians, and other performers - conquer stage fright that’s been holding you back or discover new aspects of your creative voice to reinvigorate your process.

For content creators - develop a dependable system to keep the ideas coming and distribute them more effectively.

For business creatives -  Master your stress during that deadline crunch to deliver the innovative solutions you need.

Creative Coaching FTW

Earlier, I mentioned how challenging the formation of habits can be when you start in the conscious world and how much more easily they can be established in the subconscious space. That’s all true. And perhaps that breakthrough moment during hypnotherapy is all you ever need to set you on the right path. However, for many of us, bridging the breakthrough into a habit is much easier when we do incorporate our conscious minds. That’s where creative coaching comes in. It can give your breakthrough the staying power you need.

Creative coaching targets the specific challenges of artistic work - allowing yourself to be vulnerable by sharing your artistic vision, trying to stay true to that vision, while also trying to pay the bills and balance life’s responsibilities. Life in the arts often seesaws between feast and famine.

As a creative coach, I hold you accountable to the artistic goals you set. Having been in the trenches, I provide industry insight and practical strategies to help you keep your fire burning when the initial excitement fades. In a business where nothing is guaranteed, I try to help you strike a sustainable balance that benefits your creative process and your mental well-being.

Your Creative Breakthrough Awaits

I primarily wrote this to help shed some light on what I consider an amazing healing modality that can shift your entire relationship with your craft. Whether you're starting out, trying to break long-held bad habits, or looking for extra tools to enhance your process,  I truly believe hypnotherapy can help you conquer your blocks and find your flow.

If you want to know more or are ready to dive in and try it, I’m here for you. But whether you try it with me or with someone else, I’m just really excited for you to transform that iceberg from a prison where negativity dwells into a castle where your creativity can thrive.