The arts are the heartbeat of culture — they challenge, inspire, and connect us. But behind the curtain, many creative professionals in the UK are struggling. Long hours, unstable income, performance anxiety, and emotional burnout are all too common.
At Hammock Counselling, we understand the unique pressures of working in the creative industries. Our low-cost online counselling sessions (£30 each) make it possible for artists, performers, writers, and other creatives to access the support they need — wherever they are in the UK.
Mental Health in the Creative Industries
In recent years, there’s been growing awareness of the mental health challenges in the arts. Research from Ulster University and Inspire found that people working in Northern Ireland’s creative sector are almost three times more likely to experience mental ill health compared to the general population — with anxiety and depression the most common conditions (Ulster University, 2018).
A global study by Professor Mark Deuze described a “longstanding health crisis in the creative industries,” driven by passion-driven work, financial precarity, and the blurring of boundaries between personal identity and artistic success (Creatives Unite, 2024). When creativity becomes not just what you do, but who you are, rejection or failure can feel deeply personal.
This unique emotional investment is both the strength and the vulnerability of creative life — and it’s why accessible mental health support for artists and arts professionals is more essential than ever.
Why Affordable Therapy Matters for Artists
For many people in the arts, affordability is the biggest barrier to therapy. Freelancers and self-employed creatives often juggle multiple jobs, fluctuating income, and uncertainty about the future. The idea of paying £60–£80 per counselling session can make therapy feel impossible.
At Hammock Counselling, we’re changing that. We offer high-quality therapy for artists and creatives across the UK at just £30 per online session. Our goal is to make counselling financially accessible without compromising on quality or depth of care.
Because mental health support shouldn’t be a luxury — it should be a lifeline.
Understanding the Unique Pressures of Working in the Arts
The creative industries — from theatre and film to music, design, writing, and visual art — are emotionally demanding spaces. People in these fields often experience:
- Unpredictable work and income instability – project-based employment makes it difficult to plan ahead or feel secure.
- Performance pressure and perfectionism – the constant need to deliver something extraordinary can lead to burnout and self-doubt.
- Rejection and public scrutiny – artists frequently face critique and competition, which can erode confidence.
- Blurring of identity – when your art is part of who you are, creative setbacks can feel deeply personal.
These issues are echoed across multiple studies and initiatives, including Wellbeing in the Arts, which was founded to nurture the mental health of professionals in theatre, film, and fashion (Creative Boom, 2024), and Industry Minds, which offers counselling and support for those in performance and media (BECTU, 2024).
The message is clear: the need for mental health support in the UK arts sector is urgent and growing.
How Hammock Counselling Supports Creative Professionals
At Hammock Counselling, we bring an integrative and compassionate approach to therapy. Our counsellors work from a blend of humanistic and psychodynamic perspectives, helping clients explore both current struggles and deeper emotional patterns rooted in their life stories.
We recognise that creativity and vulnerability often coexist. Many artists find therapy not only helps them manage stress and anxiety, but also reconnects them with their creativity and purpose.
We offer:
- Low-cost online sessions (£30 each) — accessible and flexible for freelance schedules.
- Qualified, integrative counsellors — trained to work with complexity and emotional depth.
- Confidential, non-judgmental support — tailored for creative professionals at any career stage.
- Flexible online access — ideal for people who travel, tour, or have irregular working hours.
Whether you’re an actor facing performance anxiety, a designer managing burnout, a writer battling creative block, or a musician feeling lost between gigs, Hammock Counselling provides a safe, steady place to pause — and breathe.
The Bigger Picture: Mental Health and Creative Health
The link between creativity and wellbeing is now widely recognised. The Arts Council England’s Creative Health and Wellbeing plan highlights the power of the arts to support community mental health — but also calls for better mental health provision for those creating the work (Arts Council England, 2023).
Similarly, Mind, the UK’s leading mental health charity, describes arts and creative therapies as valuable ways to process emotion and build resilience — from art and music therapy to drama and dance (Mind, 2024).
At Hammock Counselling, we honour the creative spirit in all its forms. We know that imagination and introspection go hand in hand — and we’re committed to supporting the people who bring light, story, and expression into the world.
Providing Accessible Therapy for the Arts Community
Our vision is simple: to make counselling and psychotherapy affordable, accessible, and relevant for everyone in the UK, and this is particularly relevant for the arts sector.
We work with clients from all backgrounds — actors, dancers, writers, producers, photographers, designers, and behind-the-scenes professionals. What unites them is a shared need for stability, reflection, and support in navigating the emotional realities of creative work.
By keeping our fees low and our sessions flexible, Hammock Counselling ensures that cost is never the reason someone in the arts goes without help.
Because Behind Every Performance, There’s a Person
The arts give so much to the world — beauty, meaning, connection. But the people who make it all possible deserve to feel supported, too.
At Hammock Counselling, we’re here to help creative professionals find balance, resilience, and wellbeing. Our low-cost online counselling offers a steady, compassionate space to reflect, heal, and grow — so you can keep creating from a place of wholeness, not exhaustion.
If you work in the arts and are ready to prioritise your mental health, Hammock Counselling is here for you.
