Eric Maisel

Eric Maisel (born 1947) is an American psychotherapist, teacher, coach, author and atheist. His most popular books include Fearless Creating (1995), The Van Gogh Blues (2002), Coaching the Artist Within (2005), and The Atheist’s Way (2009).[1]

Eric Maisel
Born	(1947-01-14) January 14, 1947 Bronx, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	San Francisco State University, Oregon State UniversityUniversity of Oregon
Occupation	Teacher, Author, Coach, Playwright, Workshop Leader
Known for	‘’The Van Gogh Blues” and “The Atheist’s Way”
Spouse(s)	Ann Mathesius Maisel
Website

Biography

Eric Maisel, Ph.D., is the author of more than 40 books and is widely regarded as Americas foremost creativity coach.[1][2][3][4][5] He trains creativity coaches nationally and internationally and provides core trainings for the Creativity Coaching Association.[1]

Eric Maisel was born in the Bronx, and grew up in Brooklyn. Dr. Maisel is a columnist for Professional Artist magazine and a featured contributor to Psychology Today. His books include “Rethinking Depression,” “Mastering Creative Anxiety,” "Creative Recovery," "A Writer’s San Francisco,” "A Writer’s Paris" and many others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family.[6]

Creativity Coaching

In the early 1990s, while working with creative and performing artists as a psychotherapist, Dr. Maisel developed the coaching specialty of creativity coaching. Creativity coaching focuses on helping creative and performing artists meet their emotional and practical challenges, including overcoming creative blockage and performance anxiety, dealing effectively with the art marketplace, and handling criticism and rejection. Many of the creativity coaches trained by Dr. Maisel have gone on to become certified creativity coaches under the auspices of the Creativity Coaching Association.

In his 2005 book Coaching the Artist Within Dr. Maisel presents anecdotal case studies of his creativity coaching work with creative and performing artists and presents lessons of importance to artists, among them “creating in the middle of things,” “upholding dreams and testing reality,” “committing to goal-oriented process,” and “maintaining a creative life.”[7]

Mental Health

In his 2012 book Rethinking Depression: How to Shed Mental Health Labels and Create Personal Meaning Dr. Maisel rejects the idea that a case has been made for the existence of the “mental disorder of depression,” given the weakness of the construct “mental disorder,” the insufficiency of diagnosing on the basis of symptom pictures alone, and the reasonableness of supposing that what we are seeing is profound sadness instead; and presents an “updated existential program” for dealing with that profound sadness.[8][9] [10][11]

Atheism

A lifelong atheist, Dr. Maisel described in his 2009 book The Atheist’s Way: Living Well Without Gods how individuals can negotiate the paradigm shift from seeking meaning (in religion, spiritual pursuits, or anywhere else) to making meaning. He argues that by making use of ideas like “meaning investments” and “meaning opportunities” people can effectively handle their meaning crises and meet their meaning challenges. The book presents one picture of how a person can make personal meaning despite the absence of beneficent gods and despite the indifference of the universe to human concerns.[12]

Bibliography

• Maisel, Eric (2012). Rethinking Depression. New World Library. pp. 248. ISBN 978-1608680207.
• MURDER IN BERLIN—Singingwood Press, 2011
• BECOME A CREATIVITY COACH NOW!—Singingwood Press, 2011
• Maisel, Eric (2011). Mastering Creative Anxiety. New World Library. p. 272. ISBN 978-1577319320.
• Maisel, Eric (2010). Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions. New World Library. p. 216. ISBN 978-1577316213.
• A WRITER’S SPACE — Adam’s Media, 2009
• Maisel, Eric (2009). The Atheist's Way: Living Well Without Gods. New World Library. p. 200. ISBN 978-1577316428.
• CREATIVE RECOVERY — Shambhala, 2008
• TOXIC CRITICISM — McGraw-Hill, 2007
• TEN ZEN SECONDS — Source books, 2007
• CREATIVITY FOR LIFE — New World Library, 2007
• EVERYDAY YOU — Conari, 2007
• A WRITER’S SAN FRANCISCO — New World Library, 2006
• WHAT WOULD YOUR CHARACTER DO? — Writer’s Digest Books, 2006
• PERFORMANCE ANXIETY — Backstage Books, 2005
• COACHING THE ARTIST WITHIN — New World Library, 2005
• A WRITER’S PARIS — Writer’s Digest Books, 2005
• THE ART OF THE BOOK PROPOSAL — Tarcher/Penguin 2004
• WRITERS AND ARTISTS ON LOVE — New World Library, 2004
• WRITERS AND ARTISTS ON DEVOTION — New World Library, 2004
• THE VAN GOGH BLUES — Rodale, 2002
• WRITE MIND — Tarcher/Penguin, 2002
• 20 COMMUNICATION TIPS AT WORK — New World Library, 2001
• THE CREATIVITY BOOK — Tarcher/Penguin, 2000
• 20 COMMUNICATION TIPS FOR FAMILIES — New World Library, 2000
• SLEEP THINKING — Adams Media, 2000
• LIVING THE WRITER’S LIFE — Watson-Guptill, 1999
• DEEP WRITING — Tarcher/Penguin, 1999
• AFFIRMATIONS FOR ARTISTS — Tarcher/Penguin, 1996
• FEARLESS CREATING — Tarcher/Penguin, 1995
• ARTISTS SPEAK — Harper San Francisco, 1993
• STAYING SANE IN THE ARTS—Tarcher/Penguin, 1992
• THE FRETFUL DANCER—Aegina Press, 1988
• THE BLACKBIRDS OF MULHOUSE—Maya Press, 1984
• DISMAY—Maya Press, 1982
• THE KINGSTON PAPERS—Manor Books (ghostwriter), 1978
• THE BLACK NARC—Manor Books (ghostwriter), 1977
• BIORHYTHM—Simon & Schuster (ghostwriter), 1976

References

1. “Eric Maisel’s Bio" Archived 2013-04-08 at Archive.today Psychology Today. Retrieved 22 August 22nd 2012
2. Jaycox, Victoria (1999). Single Again: A Guide for Women Starting Over. W. W. Norton and Company.
3. Hancock, Georganna (2011). Review of MASTERING CREATIVE ANXIETY by Eric Maisel. A Writer's Edge.
4. Myers, Tona (1999). The Soul of Creativity: Insights into the Creative Process. New World Library.
5. Warmke, Clare (2002). Idea Revolution: Guidelines and Prompts for Brainstorming Alone, in Groups or With Clients (Graphic Design). How Design Books.
6. “Eric Maisel’s Bio" Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 August 22nd 2012
7. “Eric Maisel Biography" Archived 2012-10-28 at the Wayback Machine Art Bistro. Retrieved 22 August 22nd 2012
8. “New World Library Interview" New World Library. Retrieved 22 August 22nd 2012
9. “31 Voices March Interview” 31 Voices March. Retrieved 22 August 22nd 2012
10. “Maryanne Live Radio Interview with Eric Maisel” 31 Voices March. Retrieved 22 August 22nd 2012
11. “Scott Cluthe interviews Eric Maisel on Rethinking Depression” Archived 2014-02-23 at the Wayback Machine Positively Incorrect Radio Show. Retrieved 22 August 22nd 2012
12. “The Atheist’s Way Review" Minnesota Atheists. Retrieved 22 August 22nd 2012

External links

• Eric Maisel, official website for Eric Maisel
• The Atheist's Way, official web site for The Atheist's Way
• Eric Maisel Interviews, Eric Maisel Interviews