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Healthy Creativity

Writing (With) the Body: How to Let Pain Into the Work Without Letting It Take Over
Pain slows time. Sometimes all we can do is slow down with it. Prompts and exercises to create within illness.
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Kathryn Vercillo
4
The Content of Pain: When Illness Writes the Story for You
Not all creative work made during illness is seeking resolution. Sometimes it is seeking only to mark the moment, to capture what it feels like to be in…
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Kathryn Vercillo
Creativity as a Compass During Major Life Transitions
When the story of who you were no longer fits, and the story of who you are becoming has not yet formed, creative practice becomes a place to listen.
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Kathryn Vercillo
2
The Inner Critic as a Developmental Voice, A Tool, Not Just An Obstacle
Four frameworks to help us understand that the nagging rudeness of that internal voice doesn't have to be something to overcome.
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Kathryn Vercillo
5
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
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
4
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
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
Creativity Isn’t Just a Spark. It’s a Relationship. It's a Way of Being.
We talk so much about creative output, we can forget that creative being is something we carry even when the materials are untouched.
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Kathryn Vercillo
5
© 2025 Kathryn Vercillo
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