Can Therapy Help With Writer’s Block?

+ 3 Tips From a Therapist to Get Ideas Flowing Again

You’ve carved out time to write and now you’re staring at a blinking cursor…

It’s an agonizing feeling! Instead of ideas swimming around you’re hearing some familiar self talk.

‘I can’t think of anything, something must be wrong with me.’

‘I’ll never reach my writing goal at this rate.’

‘All of my ideas are trash. Other people can think of good ideas. Why can’t I?’

I’m noticing a theme here…

In many cases, when I’m talking to creatives about their writer’s block, we discover that the block isn’t actually about not having good ideas or not being good enough. It’s about how the writer is talking to themselves!

So, you’re asking, ‘Does therapy help with writer’s block?’

I’ll answer your question with another: ’Does therapy help improve your self-talk and the quality of your relationship with yourself?’

The answer to both questions is the same: Yes! It absolutely can!

I’ll tell you how and share my 3 best tips to get ideas flowing again.

What’s Going On?

Typically, I find that critical self talk has an origin in past experiences. Encounters with critical mentors, peers, or parents, experiences of bullying, or perceived failure can cause an individual to internalize negative messaging. Your mind then regurgitates that messaging as negative self-talk to avoid the pain, disappointment, and embarrassment you felt in the past. All this happens subconsciously, without your awareness, and so quickly that it can be a difficult cycle to see. Now, you find yourself stuck using an outdated script that no longer serves the goals of it’s main character (that’s you!).

How Therapy Helps Change Self-Talk

Therapy gives individuals the opportunity to slow their thought process down and get super curious. Many people struggling with creative blocks describe a similar pattern as the one described above. In sessions, a therapist can help you identify the pattern of negative thoughts and their origins then work with you to create healthier ways of interacting with yourself.

I like to start by having clients stop and notice what is happening. Noticing is the first step toward growth. Just like you can’t fix problems in your script until you identify what the problem is, you need to see what you are struggling with before you can take action toward healing. What exactly are you saying to yourself? How do those messages make you feel?

Negative self-talk is a tangled knot that takes time to unravel, but it is possible. The goal of the following 3 tips is to get you writing again by side-stepping negative thinking. As you experiment with them, notice if any negative thoughts come up. If they do, try your best to acknowledge the experience while making the brave choice to stay focused on your creativity.

3 Tips to Help You Get Back to Writing

1. Talk with a trusted friend: Having someone you can talk ideas with is a great way to get yourself unstuck. Tell them what you like about the idea. What first sparked the idea for you. Encourage a dialogue by asking them questions about the idea.

Make sure you choose someone who talks to you the way you wish your inner critic would. The goal here is to do more talking and less judging. Have a pleasant conversation and in the process you’ll find that the flames of your creativity may start to grow again.

Encourage the friend to ask you questions about the work. Moving forward in a positive way can help you get back to working and unlock new ideas.

2. Take a Break: It might sound counterintuitive, but taking a break can give your mind a chance to work on creative problems in the background. This is also a great way to give your mind a rest from overly negative thoughts.

The key here is to take a break that is recharging. If you move onto another task that demands your full attention, then that isn’t taking a break. Stepping away from consciously working on your idea means clearing your mind, letting your thoughts wander, and making space for unconscious, creative problem solving.

Ever heard of shower thoughts? Activities such as taking a shower, engaging in light exercise, going on a walk, and spending time outdoors are all great ways to give your mind a rejuvenating rest.

3. Set a Timer: Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and write without judgement. I know it can be hard. It might help if you promise yourself that you will rip it up afterward. This is an exercise in cultivating an attitude that all ideas are just ideas, neither good or bad.

If you think of your brain as a pet, then judging your ideas is like saying ‘No’ to your dog for doing something wrong. If you shout ‘No’ at your dog every time he tries to shake paws in a sub-perfect way then, naturally, he is going to be shy about shaking paws at all. The bummer is, you really want to shake your dog’s paw! Instead of saying no every time, start rewarding all attempts instead. That way, you can refine the behavior over time.

Do the same for your writing - say yes to any and all ideas! Reward yourself for them, even the ones you are tempted to label as ‘bad’! Having the capacity to brainstorm is a great skill. You never know which idea could help your writing project grow.

Still struggling and want extra support?

I’m a therapist who specializes in helping creatives like you be more you! I offer sessions virtually across California or in-person in Redondo Beach, CA. Reach out to schedule a free consultation, let’s chat about how I can help!