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June 2025

Two Different Creative Mental Health Tools
These are not diagnostic tools or tests with "right" or "wrong" answers. Instead, they are designed for self-reflection and insight.
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Kathryn Vercillo
Rest, Boredom, and the Default Mode Network: Why Doing Less Sparks More Creativity
Rest is not a luxury. It is part of the work. But I definitely have a hard time allowing myself to sit inside of the discomfort of that part of the…
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Kathryn Vercillo
2
The Myth of the Lone Genius: Relational Creativity and Why We Need Each Other
When we create alone but feel connected to a broader web of support, our nervous systems remain more regulated. This state allows for greater openness…
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Kathryn Vercillo
7
Dear artist on the edge of beginning again,
You don’t have to force a return. You don’t have to go fast. You don’t have to produce a thing to be an artist. You already are one.
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Kathryn Vercillo
1
The Power of the Small Stroke: How Micro-Creative Acts Can Fuel Your Overall Well-being
Instead of demanding a huge surge of energy for a major project, micro-creative acts (a quick sketch, a few lines of poetry, a spontaneous melody) offer…
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Kathryn Vercillo
2
Creative Flow and the Window of Tolerance: How Nervous System Regulation Affects Artmaking
Many people try to force creativity while in a dysregulated state, only to become frustrated or ashamed when the work does not come. The key is…
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Kathryn Vercillo
2
Listening to Your Creative Self and How It Intersects with Health: A Workbook
The Creative Mental Health Self-Assessment Workbook is about building self-understanding around how your creative process is affected by your mental…
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Kathryn Vercillo
10
Crafting as a Mirror: Exploring Awareness Through Fiber Arts
Chapter 1 of Craft to Heal, a comprehensive 139 page PDF all about using fiber arts to practice awareness, is now ready!!!
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Kathryn Vercillo
6
THREADSTACK Interview with Lia Pas of The Slowest Thread
"When I'm symptomatic it helps to visualize what I am feeling and "dissect" those sensations to make them less overwhelming. Freehand stitching those…
Published on Threadstack • 
When Art Is Asked to Heal Too Much
“Art heals” is a beautiful idea. I believe in it deeply. I live it. But it's not that simple; art can also be a burden.
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Kathryn Vercillo
5
Dear artist with waning motivation ...
Your journey with art is a marathon, not a sprint, and there will be seasons of intense activity and seasons of quiet reflection.
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Kathryn Vercillo
4
© 2025 Kathryn Vercillo
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