Therapy for Creatives in NYC: What to Look for in a Therapist

Written By Alyssa Digges

Why Creatives in NYC Often Struggle to Find the Right Therapist

Something I often hear from creatives looking for a therapist is that they’ve tried therapy before, but their previous therapist didn’t understand the experience of being a creative in NYC. No matter how good the therapist was, the clients I talk to feel frustrated that they had to spend half their session time either explaining or defending their career as a creative.

Many of my creative clients come to me with complaints that they never felt truly understood. They tell me that they were told to “just slow down,” “set better boundaries,” or worse, "maybe it’s time to find a different career.” I’m not saying that slowing down and setting better boundaries are bad advice, but they can feel dismissive without an understanding of the context of what it means to be a creative.

When you add in the intensity of being an artist in NYC, with its endless competition and constant hustle, feeling misunderstood in the therapy space can take a major toll. What should be a supportive and safe place can become yet another source of stress.

What Makes Therapy for Creatives Different?

Therapy for creatives allows you to show up as your full self without the need to defend, justify, or explain your creative career. Rather than viewing your artistry as either just your job or just your hobby, therapy for creatives views it as what it is: an extension of yourself.

As a therapist who specializes in working with artists, creatives, and performers, I understand how intimately creativity is tied to identity. Your art isn’t just something you do – it’s who you are.

With that creative identity in mind, the question then becomes how do you maintain your self-worth and sense of self amid the constant rejection and judgment you face as an artist in New York City. Therapy for creatives allows you to maintain your identity as an artist while separating your sense of self from your productivity and success.

Therapy for creatives allows you to develop your creative identity while also finding worth and meaning outside of your art.

What to Look for in a Therapist as a Creative

Looking for a therapist can be an overwhelming process, especially in New York City where there are so many options. It can be hard to know where to start and what to look for when the options are seemingly endless. As you begin your search, here are a few things to look out for:

An Understanding of Creative Careers

As you’re searching for a therapist, look for those who explicitly mention work with creatives or artists. Therapists who specialize in working with creatives often have a better understanding of the realities of creative careers in New York City – auditioning, rejection, financial stress, last-minute schedule changes – and help you navigate those things with understanding and flexibility. They understand that you chose this career because of your passion for it, and they won’t recommend that you “choose something more stable” when you’re facing challenges.

Comfort with Ambivalence

Look for a therapist who understands that creative careers are complex, and you can hold space for two seemingly opposite truths. You can love your career and also want to take a break from it. You can experience burnout without wanting to quit. You can feel frustrated with the realities of this industry while also loving what you do. A therapist who understands career ambivalence can help you hold those truths gently and make decisions about your career and your life that align with your values.

Attention to Identity, Not Just Symptoms 

Look for a therapist who understands that your creativity is part of who you are, not just something you do. While it’s important to address symptoms like anxiety, depression, or the impact of trauma, it shouldn’t be the sole focus of therapy. For many creatives, those symptoms are deeply connected to questions of identity and self-worth, and they make the most sense when viewed in that larger context. In my work with creatives, I focus on exploring values, strengthening self-worth, and supporting a more compassionate relationship with yourself, alongside developing practical coping skills for the challenges you’re navigating.

Types of Therapy Many Creatives Find Helpful

There are as many different therapy techniques as there are therapists, and it can be difficult to know what to look for. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach that’s perfect for every creative, but there are a few that I use that I’ve found to be very helpful for the artists I work with in NYC.

If these approaches resonate with you, I invite you to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to discuss how therapy can help you and what it might be like for us to work together.

Red Flags Creatives Should Watch For in Therapy

When you’re exploring profiles, speaking to therapists for consults, or beginning sessions with a new therapist, there are several reg flags you can look out for to ensure you’re not entering into a therapeutic relationship that could be unhelpful or even harmful.

  • Minimizing of creative careers, or implying that they’re “just a hobby”

  • Lack of curiosity about your creative world

  • Generalized approaches or rigid frameworks that lack nuance

  • Any implication that you should find a “real job,” or that your creative career isn’t valid because of financial or employment instability 

  • Pretending or assuming that they know more than they do about a career in the arts

  • An over-emphasis on fixing or problem-solving

While these red flags can be indicators that this therapist isn’t a good fit, ultimately only you know if a therapist will work for you. Pay attention to how you feel in the space with them. If you feel diminished, disrespected, or misunderstood in the therapy space, this isn’t the right fit for you.

Questions Creatives Can Ask in a Consultation

Most therapists offer a complimentary consultation to explore what it might be like to work together. Although there’s no one magic question that can tell you whether a therapist will be right for you, there are a few questions that you can ask that can give you an indication of what it would be like to work with them. Here are a few:

  • “What’s your experience working with creatives/performers/artists?”

  • “How do you approach clients experiencing burnout?”

  • “How do you support clients whose work involves frequent rejection?”

  • “Can you describe what a typical session is like?”

  • “What’s your cancellation policy?” (This can be really important for creatives whose schedules often change at the last minute)

Pay attention to how you feel as they answer these questions, and don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions. This consultation is for you, and a good therapist will understand how important it is for you to feel comfortable and confident with the fit.

How Therapy Can Support Your Creative Life

Beginning therapy can feel intimidating, and there can often be a stigma attached to seeking out mental healthcare as a creative. Many artists worry that seeking therapy is a sign of weakness or an indication that they are failing, but getting extra support is the ultimate act of self-care. 

Therapy can help you reconnect with your values to guide your life and career decisions and strengthen your sense of self. It can help you reconnect with your creativity while also allowing you the space to develop a life outside of your career. It can provide support and connection in an industry that can be extremely isolating.

When you find the right therapist, therapy tailored toward creatives can help you overcome burnout, make space for play, and build a sustainable career. You deserve a space where you are heard, understood, and held gently.

Support That Understands You

Creatives in New York City face seemingly unending obstacles and difficulties, but you don’t have to face them alone. If this blog resonated with you, I invite you to learn more about individual therapy with me and schedule a free 30-minute consultation to explore what it could be like for us to work together. 

You are valuable, both as a person and as a creative, and you deserve support from someone who truly understands you.

Resources

Berkout, O.V.. Working With Values: An Overview of Approaches and Considerations in Implementation. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8854463/

Insight Therapy NYC. Coping with Rejection: Therapy for Artists & Creatives in NYC. Retrieved from https://insighttherapynyc.com/therapy-insights-nyc/coping-with-rejection-therapy-nyc

National Institutes of Mental Health. Mindfulness for Your Health: The Benefits of Living Moment by Moment. Retrieved from https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/06/mindfulness-your-health

Psychology Today. Boundaries. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/boundaries Psychology Today

Psychology Today. Dialectics in Psychotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sacramento-street-psychiatry/201909/dialectics-in-psychotherapy Psychology Today

Psychology Today. Letting Go of the Chase and Reclaiming Your Self-Worth. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyday-resilience/202503/letting-go-of-the-chase-and-reclaiming-your-self-worth

Alyssa Digges
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