The Modern Creative Woman

149. Art as Medicine: The Science of Creativity and Well-Being

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] When was the last time you intentionally engaged with the arts—not just as background noise, but as a tool for your well-being? In this episode, Dr. Amy Backos explores the powerful intersection of creativity, neuroscience, and health. Drawing from the landmark 2019 World Health Organization report analyzing over 3,000 studies, she unpacks why the arts are now being recognized as a critical component of whole-person care—supporting mental, physical, and social well-being. You’ll learn how engaging with visual art, music, movement, and storytelling activates the brain, supports emotional processing, reduces loneliness, and even improves recovery outcomes from illness. This episode also explores how creativity functions as both prevention and intervention—enhancing resilience, supporting trauma recovery, and increasing overall life satisfaction. From global policy shifts to practical, everyday access points, this conversation reframes creativity as essential—not optional. This is your invitation to see the arts differently—and to begin using them more intentionally in your own life. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * Why the arts are being called the “fifth pillar of health” * Key findings from the World Health Organization’s 2019 report on arts and health * How creativity impacts the brain through sensory stimulation and emotional activation * The role of the arts in preventing illness and supporting recovery * How engaging with the arts can reduce loneliness and improve mental health * Why access to the arts is a public health issue—and what’s changing globally * Simple ways to begin incorporating the arts into your daily life Resources Mentioned: * WHO Report: What is the Evidence on the Role of the Arts in Improving Health and Well-being? [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/what-is-the-evidence-on-the-role-of-the-arts-in-improving-health-and-well-being-a-scoping-review] * The Modern Creative Woman [https://moderncreativewoman.com/mini-coaching-package/] If You Loved This Episode: Leave a 5-star review and share a few words about what resonated with you. This helps more women discover the power of creativity as a tool for transformation. You can also support the podcast for as little as $3/month to help sustain and grow this work. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]

148. The Million Dollar Question

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2199359/open_sms] Have you ever noticed the kinds of questions you ask yourself throughout the day? In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman Podcast, Dr. Amy Backos explores the powerful role of our inner dialogue and how the questions we ask ourselves shape the answers our brains produce. Many women are familiar with harsh inner questions like “What’s wrong with me?” or “Why am I always like this?”—questions that tend to generate equally harsh responses. Dr. Backos introduces the idea that if we want better answers, we need to start by asking better questions. Drawing from principles in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, this episode explains how thoughts are not facts but natural biological events happening in the brain. When we begin to observe our thoughts rather than automatically believing them, we create space to choose how we respond. Dr. Backos offers a simple practice of noticing thoughts throughout the day to build awareness of the patterns that often run on repeat in our minds. From there, she introduces the concept of “thousand-dollar questions.” If every question you asked your brain cost $1,000, would you spend that money on criticism and self-doubt—or would you invest it in meaningful questions that guide you toward your values? Questions like “What matters most right now?”, “How do I want to show up in this moment?”, and “What action would help me feel proud of myself today?” invite curiosity, creativity, and self-compassion. The episode also includes an art-based reflection exercise. By journaling and responding visually to your questions through drawing or collage, you can deepen your insight and engage the creative process as a way of understanding yourself. Combining writing and art allows for a richer form of reflection than thinking alone. This episode is an invitation to rethink how you use your mind. When you begin asking higher-quality questions—questions rooted in curiosity, values, and possibility—you give your brain the opportunity to generate far more meaningful answers. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]

147. Creative Rest in Turbulent Times

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman Podcast, Dr. Amy Backos explores an important question: How do we care for ourselves when the world feels overwhelming? Drawing from positive psychology and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, she reminds listeners that acknowledging suffering in the world does not require abandoning our own joy, rest, or creativity. Sustainable advocacy and meaningful engagement depend on our ability to restore ourselves. True self-care isn’t selfish—it’s what allows us to keep showing up for our communities and the people we love. Dr. Backos introduces the concept of creative rest, inspired by the work of physician and author Sandra Dalton-Smith. Creative rest goes beyond sleep or relaxation; it involves resting the brain by nourishing the part of ourselves that seeks beauty, inspiration, and wonder. One powerful way to experience this kind of restoration is by engaging with art—even if we’re not making it ourselves. The episode highlights the therapeutic value of visiting museums and experiencing art as a viewer. Rather than worrying about art history or whether we “understand” a piece, Dr. Backos encourages listeners to approach art with curiosity and playfulness. A simple practice like playing “I-Spy” with artworks can transform a museum visit into an interactive, reflective experience that sparks creativity and emotional renewal. Dr. Backos also shares examples of women artists who have created powerful work around themes of peace and resilience, including Yoko Ono and contemporary artists responding to conflict and social change. Their work reminds us that art has always been a way for humans to process difficult realities while still imagining something better. Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to step away from constant productivity and news consumption and reconnect with the restorative power of creativity. Whether through visiting a museum, noticing street art, or simply allowing yourself moments of awe and reflection, creative rest can help restore energy, perspective, and hope. Women Artists creating peace mentioned in this episode Yoko Ono [https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-yoko-onos-5-iconic-works] Imagine Peace Tower, 2007 Juana Alicia, Miranda Bergman, Edythe Boone, Susan Kelk Cervantes, Meera Desai, Yvonne Littleton, Irene Perez [https://www.womensbuilding.org/our-building/the-mural]  Maestrapeace Mural 1994 Käthe Kollwitz [https://new.artsmia.org/programs/teachers-and-students/teaching-the-arts/art-in-context/making-peace] Never War Again!, 1924 https://www.google.com/search?q=Hisako+Hibi&client=safari&hs=ScpU&sca_esv=103eda2c29df25d7&rls=en&sxsrf=ANbL-n5xiDOEWoyYnROdRUvKQJaauGhucA%3A1773187915109&ei=S7Owab2eBs790PEPzZDboQs&biw=910&bih=743&ved=2ahUKEwjQhN3ox5aTAxXxDTQIHbgYAq0QgK4QegQIAxAK&uact=5&oq=famous+art+about+peace+by+women&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiH2ZhbW91cyBhcnQgYWJvdXQgcGVhY2UgYnkgd29tZW5IpxBQ5wNYyw5wAXgBkAEAmAGXAaAB1geqAQM0LjW4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgmgAsoHwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICCBAAGBYYChgewgIGEAAYFhgewgILEAAYgAQYhgMYigXCAggQABiiBBiJBcICBRAAGO8FwgIFECEYoAHCAgUQIRirAsICBRAhGJ8FmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcDMS44oAeuJrIHAzAuOLgHxAfCBwUwLjIuN8gHI4AIAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]

146. Unhooking from your “I’m Not Enough” Story: Changing your Relationship to Thoughts

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] Have you ever believed a thought about yourself so completely that it felt like fact? I’m not good enough. I’m a fraud. I can’t handle this. In this episode, Dr. Amy Backos explores what Acceptance and Commitment Therapy calls cognitive fusion—the very human tendency to get tangled up in our thoughts and treat them as truth. Drawing from art therapy, neuroscience, and decades of clinical practice, Amy explains how self-critical thoughts form, why “imposter syndrome” is nearly universal, and how believing these thoughts can quietly shape our choices, relationships, and creative lives. When we’re fused, we shrink. When we learn to step back, we regain perspective—and freedom. You’ll learn simple, powerful defusion practices to help you observe your thoughts rather than obey them, including language shifts, present-moment awareness, walking meditations, and art-based exercises like doodling and mindful mark-making. These tools gently retrain the brain to see thoughts as mental events—not facts—so you can respond from clarity instead of fear. If you’ve ever felt held back by your inner critic, this episode offers a compassionate, practical path forward. Because you are not your thoughts—you’re the one noticing them. And from that place, everything opens. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]

145. Process vs. Product: Why Being In the Moment Changes Everything

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] How much of your life are you actually experiencing… and how much of it are you trying to finish? In this episode, Dr. Amy Backos explores the difference between process and product — and why our culture’s obsession with outcomes quietly steals so much of our satisfaction, creativity, and peace. From childhood art classes to professional life, we’re often taught to focus on what we produce: the paycheck, the clean house, the finished painting, the perfect result. But art therapy, mindfulness research, and neuroscience all point in another direction. Well-being comes from how we engage with the experience itself. Amy shares how shifting your attention from outcome to process can transform everyday life — your work, your relationships, your creative practice, even washing the dishes. When you learn to stay present with what you’re doing instead of rushing toward what you’ll get, tasks become more meaningful, mistakes feel lighter, and pleasure is no longer postponed. You don’t have to wait until everything is finished to feel good. This episode offers a practical and compassionate reframe for modern women who are tired of chasing the next milestone and ready to enjoy their lives as they’re happening — one small, intentional moment at a time. In this episode, you’ll explore: * The art therapy distinction between process and product * Why outcome-focused thinking increases stress and perfectionism * How mindfulness and creativity increase everyday satisfaction * Simple ways to bring more presence and pleasure into ordinary tasks * How process-orientation supports psychological flexibility and resilience If you’re craving a slower, richer, more creative way of living — this conversation is for you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]