Healthy Artists | Pacifica Psychological Services
Dr. Kathline Colvin, Ph.D – Founder and Director
We marvel at how creatively gifted people make art that touches our lives and bestows so much beauty on our world. Yet, artists that choose to earn their living using their creative talents have a variety of unique biological, psychological, and social stressors. And so it is essential that therapists, counselors, coaches and associated wellness practitioners have a specialized framework for understanding the idiosyncratic contexts of the creative and performing arts.
Healthy Artists was founded with the purpose of promoting and nurturing the highest quality of care for all creative and performing artists. My understanding of the artistic endeavor comes from my own professional career in music – performing as a singer and pianist in both classical and popular music venues, in Musical Theater productions, and as a stage director and manager – allowing me to merge my practical skills as an artist with my professional ability as a clinical psychologist to effectively serve this unique community. With Healthy Artists I’ve realized my vision by creating an integrated framework of artistic and wellness practices, which then serve as catalysts for successful creative productivity.
Dr. Colvin involves a strong support network of highly specialized practitioners and educators to participate in the dialogue, to connect with creative and performing arts’ communities, to design and deliver services and programs to enhance understanding, and to meet the unique needs of artists involved in the creative process. As we endeavor to offer individualized services to all artists as they address the many demands facing them daily in their personal and professional lives, Healthy Artists offers practical opportunities for artists to address the challenges facing them as they strive to excel in their art…
Creativity and Madness
by Dr. Kathline Colvin
In my Chapter, Beverly Sills: Music as the Medicine that Heals, in Barry M Panter’s Creativity and Madness book we see many examples of how Art healed her through her singing, through that deep engagement with the process called art making. When we focus in on the beauty of the piece, we can lift the blocks that circumvent the creative process. Feeling oneself “living inside your art” conveys a sense of belonging – you are home and the familiarity of that “sense of place” brings comfort and joy and subsequent creative successes.
Over the past decade research studies have supported the idea that making art is as important to your health as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, sleep, and calming moments such as breathing exercises and meditation. These studies concur that desirable outcomes include: reduced stress, depression, anxiety, and promotes wide-ranging positive effects on cognitive, emotional and physical well-being which then permits optimal coping strategies for dealing with daily personal and professional challenges.
Enjoy this extraordinary story of how Beverly Sills used music as her Art that Heals.
“Dr. Colvin has combined a very successful career as a performing artist with her exceptional talents as a clinical psychologist, offering her artist clients a unique and special opportunity for reflection, understanding and guidance. As artists the particular way we live our lives determines our well being, professional success and happiness, and the “mirror” that Dr. Colvin provides is one that few psychologists are able to offer. I invited Dr. Colvin to be a guest speaker on several occasions at The Artist’s Salon in Laguna Beach, CA, because of her outstanding skills, ease as a presenter, enjoyment of her audience and their enjoyment of her.” — L.R., Fine Artist
“I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Colvin, since she has a thorough understanding of what’s it takes to be a healthy performing artist, and is able to translate her knowledge and experience into useful solutions for my particular needs. She is a creative, compassionate, talented therapist who knows how to support my efforts in realizing my artistic potential even though the demands of performance can be overwhelming at times. Dr. Colvin has my most sincere thanks for all that she has done on my behalf.” —S.M.
“I owe so much to Dr. Colvin as she has made it possible for me to heal anxiety and depression, and find my strength and creativity to shine in my performances and auditions. I am now training for a professional career in the theater, and believing in myself in ways I never thought possible. My success is due to the self-confidence and self-compassion I learned during my therapy with Dr. Colvin. She offered me hope that I could change, and strategies that would bring me success both as a young performer and young woman with many dreams, I deeply value everything Dr. Colvin provided for me and am so grateful to her.” —S.S.