ABSTRACT
Careers in the arts-and-entertainment industry tend to be unstable, arduous, and highly unpredictable. The fierce competition, the erratic income and schedules, the frequent rejections, and the multiple responsibilities introduce risk factors that increase the likelihood that creative professionals will experience severe stress at some point in their careers. Stress in the arts-and-entertainment world contributes to anxiety, discouragement, burnout, substance abuse, and abandonment of creative goals. This chapter lists the challenges and potential obstacles inherent in creative professions, with a focus on the tools that creative clients may employ to persevere. It includes suggestions for how clinicians can encourage clients to maintain hopeful and proactive outlooks, so that they can work through negative feelings associated with slow-moving careers. It emphasizes the importance of developing actionable plans that help clients reach their creative potential.
