Happy joyous and free
In my worldview and language "recovery" and "creativity" are at the center of life. Individuals, families, communities and civilizations are as healthy as their arts and creativity. Our ordinary lives are full of complexities, joys and challenges, choices and decisions, sureness and doubt, love and fear. In the midst of this, our creative life and dreams can unfold if we decide to let them matter. Our creative life does matter. We matter. Your creative life matters. You matter.

Clients in recovery through the 12 Steps of AA, the Red Red or other recovery programs can use the wisdom, language and principles of that journey in our sessions. Continuing your journey as a creative person in recovery, perhaps after a lapsed creative life, can be challenging. In our work together I bring experience from 20 years of active recovery through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and walking the Red Road.

My Invitation to You
Recovery means restoration-the return to balance after illness or injury; the return of something to a normal or improved state after a setback or loss; the regaining of something lost or taken away. "In recovery" means to be recovered or recovering from an addiction or other destructive habit. Words similar in meaning are restoration, retrieval, recapture, regaining, rescue, reclamation,  revival, recuperation, mending, healing, improvement, resurgence, revitalization, renewal. And those of you who've been in recovery for a long time know that the journey never ends, there's always more.

Are there creative dreams and goals you want to rescue or reclaim? Are you creating brand new creative dreams in your recovery? If you haven't given yourself that choice, why not decide to do so today? The single greatest gift of recovery is that it gives us choices. Think about what your smallest and largest creative dreams could possibly be.

Our creative work together
I work as a creativity coach with people in recovery. Sometimes people in recovery are beginning or returning to creative work they started earlier in life. When the clients wants to, we actively engage in conversation about their recovery process while also deeply engaged in discussions about their goals in their creative life and work. It can be powerful and helpful using the special language and principles of recovery to support the client's creative dreams and goals. 
 
My style of creativity coaching with people in recovery
My style of creativity coaching with creative people in recovery comes from indigenous and western perspectives on healing our creative spirits--recovery and creativity seamlessly nurtured by tribal values. My work has many roots: in 12-Step programs, walking the Red Road, Lakota lifeway, the restorative Circle process and concepts about how wounded warriors are healed. These teachings complement each other. My recovery journey includes 20 years as a sober contemporary artist. My journey included recovery from alcoholism, anxiety and sexual trauma. I have worked with creative clients locally, across the USA and abroad.

Passion in my creativity coaching practice
In my work with clients in recovery I draw on 20 years of continuous sober recovery, related experience with the practice and principles of The 12 Steps and the ancient indigenous teachings of the four Directions and the Circle Process. Applying the principles of the Circle Process to creative dreams and goals can add powerful awareness and new insights. On my journey of recovery as a creative person I've faced difficult challenges and had my share of colorful experiences in recovery. I am a successful selling painter, artist, writer, intrepreneur and business woman. This combination gives me insight and understanding that someone not in recovery may not have. As we continue to nurture and uphold our creative life in recovery, relationships and other aspects of life blossom in unexpected ways and our view of the world becomes richer and deeper.

"Recovery Discoveries" and how they support your creative work
One of the most exciting aspects of living a new life is the choices we now have. We can spend time on things that are truly meaningful and important to us. Time that used to be spent attending to our addiction can be spent writing music, painting masterpieces, carving or sculpting, woodworking, creating beautiful beading and leather crafts, writing books or screenplays, exploring photography, building canoes, wildcrafting, learning bolder cooking or baking, knitting without losing stitches, or needlepoint without bloody fingers.

Wrap Your Heart Around Your Creative Goals
These kinds of topics come up in conversations with creative clients in our work together: 

   new beginnings: creative goals and dreams that feel meaningful and important to you; personal creative vision; where you are now; where you're going; risk-taking; the true dreams and audacious goals; new techniques; recognizing achievements and successes; when to start over.
    wellness and healing: rest and relaxation for the feeding and nurturing of your creative spirit; doubts and fears; finding balance; empowering your creativity as a sober person in recovery; letting go of expectations and frustrations; observing our inner dialogue; issues of age, different abilities, chronic illness; aloneness versus isolation; creating just the right amount of companionship and community.
    power & ritual: supporting each day's creative work; feeling productive; doodling, doohickeys, daydreaming and journaling; befriending barriers and minimizing obstacles; procrastination; dealing with distractions and other creative issues; disarming the inner critic; feeding your Muse.
    clarity: the tools of your trade; techniques and knowledge; mentors and teachers; assessment and reality checks; knowledge versus creativity; beginning the work; nuts and bolts including sharing your creative work with in public venues, publishing, technology, web presence, galleries, marketing, etc.; creative development and maturity; passing it on.

My background & credentials
For my background, credentials and fees please see creativity coaching fees and services. And if you'd like to chat with me about whether creativity coaching might be a good fit for you, drop me an email at pamela@pamelayates.com or call me at  (651) 308-0870. I provide creativity coaching by phone, in-person sessions or via email. Clients are located around the country and around the globe.

Happy creating!
Pamela Yates

Meaningful creative dreams and goals