Thoughts on The Creative Act
“The work reveals itself as you go.”
I was reading The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, and was struck by how many parallels exist between art and existential therapy. Both practices not only require creativity, attunement, and presence, but also a willingness to fully surrender to the process. Rubin asks the artist to trust that “the work reveals itself as you go.” I couldn’t agree more. This idea also happens to be the core of my work as an existential therapist. I believe the most profound therapeutic work happens when a client is able to loosen their grip on plans and goals, and instead dare to face what is right in front of them, whether that’s the patterns they repeat daily, or the unconscious corners of their psyche.
You may be thinking, “Okay, but how exactly do I do that?”
Existential therapy is, by nature, relational and unstructured. It does not rely on a prescribed set of steps. Instead, it unfolds in response to what is alive in the present moment. That may sound counterintuitive as, for most of us, structure offers a sense of safety and direction. I am aware that being asked to let go of your map while moving through an unknown path can feel terrifying. But the work begins when you accept that there is no roadmap to self-understanding. The work begins when you surrender to the unknown. Yes, you will get lost. That’s the point.
As your therapist, I walk alongside you, shedding light on the hidden corners of your unconscious. Together, we untangle the patterns that have been holding you back, examine your contradictions without judgment, and face the fears that have been quietly shaping your life. All you need to do is show up. And trust that the work will reveal itself as you go.
