Do You Need a Creativity Coach, or Just a Really Supportive Houseplant?

A beutiful, buxom woman with her house plant, giving humorous imagery to the question: So, What’s a Creativity Coach Anyway?

Author - Douglas Paul Smith

Douglas Paul Smith is the founder of House of Flow and an experienced artist coach who has spent over 15 years empowering artists to unlock their creative potential. With a deep background in visual arts, meditation. and contemplative arts practices, he helps artists overcome creative blocks and transform emotional challenges through the creative process. Douglas is the author of The Infinite Artist and has taught courses on creativity, flow, and overcoming anxiety. His experience as a visual artist includes exhibitions in museums and galleries worldwide, and his unique approach blends Eastern philosophy with modern artistic practices to guide artists on a journey of self-discovery and growth.

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Advice for Creatives | Creativity Coaching | General Advice for Artists

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March 3, 2025

Table of Contents

(Spoiler: It’s Probably the Coach)

Every artist has that moment. You’re sitting at your desk, maybe in your fanciest paint-splattered overalls, and it hits you: “Do I actually need a creativity coach… or can I just vent to my monstera again?” Before you start assigning personality traits to your pothos, let’s talk about what creativity coaching really is, and whether you should bring a professional into your studio—or just keep watering your leafy therapist.

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So, What’s a Creativity Coach Anyway?

If you’ve ever asked, “Why do we need a creativity coach?” you’re not alone. Think of them as your artistic personal trainer—minus the sweating, plus a lot more existential questions. A creativity coach helps you get unstuck, find direction, and actually finish that “life-changing” project you started three Novembers ago.

Unlike art therapists (who dig deep into emotional healing through art), creativity coaches focus on the logistics of being an artist. They’ll help you set goals, kickstart your routine, and stay inspired enough to keep making, even when you feel like a sentient crumpled napkin.

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The Weird and Wobbly Stuff Artists Deal With

Let’s be honest: being a creative human is messy. And while your houseplant might lean toward the sunlight encouragingly, a creativity coach offers slightly more practical help.

1. Creative Blocks: The Pits

You stare at your canvas, screen, or instrument. Nothing. A creativity coach helps you figure out if it’s fear, perfectionism, or just a lack of snacks. Then they guide you out of the pit—with prompts, routines, and possibly some wild advice like painting with your non-dominant hand (yes, really).

They’ll even throw in gems like time management for artists—so you stop binge-scrolling and start binge-creating.

2. The Inner Critic Won’t Shut Up

That voice in your head saying you’re terrible? A coach can help drown it out—or at least turn it into a background hum. They’ll help you challenge that self-doubt and build confidence in your process. Basically, it’s life advice from artists but with someone there to hold you accountable.

3. “Wait, What Am I Even Doing?”

So many ideas, zero direction? A coach helps you find your north star. Maybe you want to learn how to sell your art locally, or maybe you’re dreaming of selling your work to a company that makes yoga mats for cats. Either way, they’ll help you map it out.

4. Procrastination: Your Secret (and Not-So-Secret) Nemesis

You’ve alphabetized your paint tubes again. Why? Because avoiding your art is easier than making it. A creativity coach helps you face the fear behind the procrastination—and gives you doable steps so you can stop spinning and start creating.

5. The Consistency Struggle

Let’s face it: life is chaotic. Kids, jobs, existential dread. A coach can help you set a creative routine that actually works for your life—even if that means ten minutes of doodling in a journal while eating cereal.

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Signs You Need a Creativity Coach (Not Just Another Succulent)

Still unsure if your plant is enough emotional support? Here are the signs:

You’re stuck in creative mud. You need more than vague vibes. A coach brings actual strategies (like those juicy time management for artists hacks).
You’ve read every self-help book and watched every YouTube video, but still feel like you’re treading artistic molasses.
Your joy has taken a vacation. If making art feels like a tax return, a coach can help you remember why you started in the first place.
Your goals are a hot mess. A coach breaks down your big dream into tiny steps, whether you’re figuring out how to sell your art to corporations, or just how to paint again without crying.
You need a nudge (or a shove). Whether you want a cheerleader or someone to lovingly yell “GET TO WORK,” a coach does both.

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The Perks of Having a Coach (Sorry, Ficus)

Coaches don’t just hand you a to-do list and vanish. They work with your strengths and hangups to build a creative practice that sticks. Whether you’re trying to finish a novel or learn how to sell your art online, they meet you where you are—and push you just a little beyond.

Real Talk: What It Looks Like

Let’s say you’re a ceramicist who hasn’t touched clay in six months because life. A coach might say, “Cool, let’s do 15 minutes a day. No pressure.” And suddenly? You’re back at it. Or maybe you’re a musician who thinks all their new songs are trash. A coach helps you build momentum—and maybe even a plan to release an album.

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Wrap-Up: So, Coach or Fern?

If your creative fire’s flickering, a creativity coach might be the match you need. They help you navigate burnout, build confidence, and actually enjoy the process again. Sure, your houseplant listens without judgment, but it won’t give you homework or challenge your limiting beliefs.

So ask yourself: Do you need a creativity coach, or just a really supportive houseplant?

(But also, maybe both. Plants are great too.)