How to Overcome Creative Blocks: A Therapist's Perspective

As a therapist in Los Angeles, I specialize in working with creatives, entrepreneurs, dancers, actors, musicians, writers, and professionals in the entertainment industry. One pattern I see over and over is that talent isn't what keeps people stuck from pursuing meaningful work. Creative blocks are.

Creative blocks can sound like this:

Self-doubt: "I'm not enough."

Imposter syndrome: "Who am I to do this?"

Perfectionism: "It's not perfect yet."

Procrastination: "I'm not ready yet."

Comparison: "Other people are way more talented than me."

Whether you're a dancer preparing for auditions, a writer staring at a blank page, an actor between projects, a musician, filmmaker, entrepreneur, or someone simply wanting to reconnect with your creative side, these thinking traps are remarkably common. But here's the good news: having creative blocks doesn't mean you're not creative. It simply means you're human, and creativity is a skill that you can cultivate over time, not some kind of special gift bestowed upon a lucky, select group of people. We are all naturally creative creatures! <3

As a kid, I always admired dancers and theater performers, but I was never enrolled in classes or programs. I believed I was skilled at academics and presentations, but a dancer? No way. Not me. It just wasn't "in me."

As an adult, I decided to take a chance and start taking dance classes, everything from hip hop to heels choreography, just to see what would happen if I leaned into the fun of it.

At first, dance classes were incredibly challenging and clunky. The much more experienced dancers in class were executing choreography flawlessly, and me? Flailing.

I didn't realize it was possible to make dance moves look that bad.

Meanwhile, in my head, I'm panicking.

"Do they know I'll need an ambulance if we run that again? I could probably sneak out the back door. Maybe they won't notice..."

In the words of Rick Rubin, "Create for yourself. You're not creating for the audience. You're creating to surprise yourself."

Boy, was I surprised! Week after week, dance classes became a little easier. I found new pathways that felt good in my body. I became more expressive, more courageous, and more willing to make bold choices with the choreography. After months of showing up, I found myself feeling proud.

And that's what creativity actually looks like.

Creativity is messy. It isn't tidy, put together, or straightforward. It doesn't always lead to pretty outcomes. It's a process of trying new things, experimenting, leaning into the clunkiness, making mistakes, and trying again.

How to Overcome Creative Blocks:

Morning Pages (from The Artist's Way)

Every morning, sit down and write three full pages of stream-of-consciousness writing. Our brains hold a lot of mental clutter, and this practice helps clear space for new ideas to emerge. There are no rules. If it comes to mind, write it down.

Schedule weekly "Artist Dates"

Take yourself on a date to reconnect with your inner artist. Go for a long walk, visit a museum, sit in nature, explore a bookstore, or do anything that feels nourishing and inspiring. Novel experiences help generate new creative ideas.

Don't stop at the first answer

According to Roger von Oech, author of A Whack on the Side of the Head, one of the biggest blocks to creativity is that we get locked into finding the "one right answer."

But creativity rarely works that way.

There isn't one right path, one right answer, or one right move that guarantees the perfect creative outcome. Next time you're brainstorming, challenge yourself not to stop at your first idea. Instead, push yourself to come up with a second, third, or even fourth possible solution. This teaches your brain to consider multiple possibilities without immediately judging them.

Be bored

Have you ever tried desperately to brainstorm an idea, only for your brain to say, "Nope. I've got nothing." Then later, while you're washing dishes or taking a shower, the perfect idea suddenly appears?

That's the power of boredom: Our brains need spaciousness to make unexpected connections. Creativity often shows up when we stop chasing it.

If you're struggling with creative blocks, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, or anxiety that's interfering with your creative work, therapy can help. I specialize in working with creatives, entrepreneurs, performers, and entertainment professionals throughout California, helping clients build confidence, overcome self-doubt, and reconnect with their creativity. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation to see if we're a good fit.

Happy creating!

Kalie Pham, LMFT

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Kalie Pham, LMFT (#156007), is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the founder of Inner Compass Therapy in Santa Monica, California. She specializes in couples therapy, EMDR, and identity-focused individual work. Kalie blends attachment-based, narrative, and somatic approaches to help clients understand themselves, heal relationship patterns, and move toward more grounded connection.