Aaron Corte LMSW
Therapist and Musician
A few years ago I began studying the relationship between trauma and creativity, and encountered something surprising. Despite a longstanding view that artists struggle with mental health, I noticed this was hardly discussed in my field. How much of this stereotype is myth? How much is true? I began exploring these questions, and not just for artists, but all highly-creative people.
The process of making something new is miraculous. And yet, creativity is full of mixed messages. Many people admire creative success, while also viewing the pursuit of creativity as impractical. Creativity can support our mental health, or do great damage to it. The more I researched this, the more contradictions I encountered. All this noise reminded me of my experiences as a young musician, which had felt like navigating an ocean.
My research eventually led me to begin training therapists on how to best work with highly-creative populations. And in the process, I also noticed changes in my own creativity. I found a stability that had often eluded me in the past: a healthier relationship with my work, security in my creative identity, and a self-worth that allowed me to take creative risks. My guitar on the wall no longer glared at me, and creative joy became more sustainable.
Today, thoughtful creativity is more important than ever. We need art and stories that support healing, business that is heart-led, and technology that serves humanity. It's time to go beyond the old stereotypes of the “tortured artist” and better understand how creativity impacts mental health. I’ve seen the toll that a highly creative life takes, and I’ve lived it. I believe in a future where we take better care of the creators that help make our world meaningful.