Creativity
Upcoming Summer Art Classes, 3 Workshop Sessions
Create Your Own Adventure With Journal-Making
Saturdays June 20, July 18, August 1, 2026, 10:30am-Noon
Plymouth Arts Center. Plymouth, Wisconsin
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HypnoCrafting
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Your Well of Creativity
Outside of powerful hypnotherapy practices, I was first introduced to self-led mind-body healing through the incredible work of Dr. John Sarno. From his work, I’ve found many excellent evidence-based resources that I’ve not only used myself to overcome my autoimmune disease and other “incurable” health troubles, but that critically inform my work with others. While I could compile a long list of these resources, I’m including a few foundational works below that I recommend be read today. Wholeheartedly!
While not explicitly stated, many of the practices that proponents of mind-body medicine promote are similar, if not identical to, longstanding hypnotherapy practices, and certainly are rooted in that body of work. And for good reason, it reliably works! These medical pioneers have found many different methods for working on oneself, by oneself. There is a profound beauty and truth in knowing that you, yourself, are empowered to be the difference that you need. Of course, help comes in many forms and through many people. Some may rely on many, but some may wish to do the solo work, and for most of us it’s a combination. For those who have struggled to heal their own habits, illnesses, and pains using mind-body techniques, I encourage you to add hypnotherapy to your efforts*.
There is one other practice that I rely on myself and enthusiastically promote, and you can start today. You can start wherever you are with whatever you have. That practice is: creative expression. Creativity is a powerful form of expression of your true self. It is a unique gift within you, me, and everyone. We all have a well of creativity inside of us, and for so many, this well is simply untapped. Perhaps untapped due to time, confidence, strains of all sorts including financial, familial, or prior troubles & traumas around self-expression.
A great simple small step that you can take today is to carve out even just a few minutes to allow that creativity out into the world. And from that small step, repeat it again tomorrow, and then the next day. Maybe you only have 5 minutes? Great! Maybe you only have a scrap of paper and a pencil handy? Great! With a daily practice, however small, you can more easily overcome your struggles, and begin to enjoy the easy feeling of flow. The feeling of tapping into your true self, the natural hypnotic state, where we express freely, easily, perfectly. Just YOU, no noise. Should you find yourself wanting to share that part of you with someone else or many others out in the world, that’s beautiful. But it’s always you, and your expression of your true self through any creative means can always just be for you. And you can creatively express in whatever ways you’re called. Maybe it’s many forms, or maybe it’s just one. As you carve even just a little bit of space in your schedule and in your mind, you’ll find your heart and creativity so easily follow.
Why Journaling
If a “creative practice” feels daunting in any way, or you just want a suggestion of where to start, I encourage you to start with personal journaling. Sometimes referred to as expressive writing. Through the simple practice of privately writing, you can also heal, transform, grow. See the incredible work by Drs. Pennebaker and Evans for details on exactly how to start, and the proven benefits that might just inspire you to start today.
And this is where my own creative practice comes in, and why this practice is part of my hypnotherapy and coaching work. I specifically use a daily morning art practice as my primary means of regulating my nervous system, alongside self-hypnosis. And this creative practice was the pivotal shift I so desperately needed to begin to live differently, fully, and well. I’m an artist of many mediums. I draw, watercolor paint, sew, and on and on. I simply PLAY with all of the mixed media. And while I keep the majority of my creative expressions to myself, I enjoy gifting them and occasionally sharing them through the sale of my handmade journals. And now after many years of creating quietly, I also occasionally share my creativity in the form of teaching art classes as well as leading my unique hypnocrafting sessions, where I combine art teaching with hypnotic coaching.
I am most fond of teaching others to make handmade journals because I believe it’s a wonderful introduction to a daily art practice that supports all mediums, and is scientifically-backed to also provide real, lasting transformation of both mind and body with the added journaling component. I welcome you to join me in one of my sessions, or to work with me privately for deeper 1:1 hypnotherapeutic services. Thank you for being here! I hope to see you, in-person or online.
Recommended Resources for Mind-Body Self-Healing
Dr. John E. Sarno
The Divided Mind, 2006
The Mindbody Prescription, 1998
Healing Back Pain, 1991
Dr. David Schecter
Think Away Your Pain, 2014
The MindBody Workbook, 1999
Dr. Howard Schubiner
Unlearn Your Pain, 2010
Drs. James W. Pennebaker and John Frank Evans
Expressive Writing: Words That Heal, 2014
*While I currently have a waitlist for my 1:1 hypnocoaching mind-body services, I encourage you to sign up below to my email list so that you can join my waitlist and also be notified of upcoming opportunities as well as occasional helpful resources that I recommend, right to your email inbox. You can also get in touch with me by email if you’d like to schedule a hypnotherapy session with me now.