In this episode of the Wellbeing Community Podcast, hosts Jason Dudley and Stephanie Huntington dive into the transformative power of creativity and how it can enhance our mental and emotional wellbeing.
Jason shares how music and visual art have long helped him feel grounded, citing band rehearsals and performance as key ways he connects with the present moment. Stephanie talks about her own use of poetry, particularly during times of emotional intensity, as a natural outlet even before becoming a therapist. Together, they reflect on their experiences using creativity in therapy, helping clients process emotions through journaling, lyric writing, sand tray exercises, and art.
A standout example is their discussion of how spontaneous and unconscious creative acts – like building a quick sand tray or improvising music – can bypass mental filters and bring powerful self-awareness. They emphasise how being fully engaged in a creative activity often puts us in a “flow state,” quieting anxious or ruminative thoughts and fostering mindfulness.
To learn more about using creative methods as a practitioner, see The Wellbeing Community Practitioner Training page.
The episode also touches on non-traditional forms of creativity – like problem-solving, programming, or dance – and how appreciating others’ creativity (through music, art, or performance) can also be uplifting. Jason recounts a moving childhood memory of watching his brother dance to a David Bowie song – an expression of pure, unfiltered joy and presence.
To conclude, they encourage listeners to challenge themselves: try something creative, whether familiar or new, and notice how it affects your wellbeing. For Jason, that means picking up a new musical instrument; for Stephanie, it’s attending a poetry class to explore writing from a wider range of emotional states.
Key Takeaways:
- Creativity helps process emotions and build self-awareness.
- It can offer grounding, mindfulness, and relief from overthinking.
- All forms of creativity count – art, music, problem-solving, or dance.
- The focus should be on process over product.
- Appreciating others’ creativity can also enhance your own wellbeing.
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