The Modern Creative Woman

Dr. Amy Backos
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The art and science of creativity, made simple. Through the lens of art therapy, neurocreativity, and cutting-edge research, you’ll learn not just why you create, but how to create with more freedom, intention, and joy. Dr. Amy Backos — author, art therapist, psychologist, professor and researcher, with 30+ years of experience — unpacks the evidence-based psychology behind creative living. Come for the science. Stay for the transformation.

  1. 6D AGO

    148. The Million Dollar Question

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! 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 Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

    14 min

  2. MAR 11

    147. Creative Rest in Turbulent Times

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! 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 Imagine Peace Tower, 2007 Juana Alicia, Miranda Bergman, Edythe Boone, Susan Kelk Cervantes, Meera Desai, Yvonne Littleton, Irene Perez  Maestrapeace Mural 1994 Käthe Kollwitz Never War Again!, 1924 Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

    16 min

  3. MAR 4

    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! 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 Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

    21 min

  4. FEB 25

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

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! 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 productWhy outcome-focused thinking increases stress and perfectionismHow mindfulness and creativity increase everyday satisfactionSimple ways to bring more presence and pleasure into ordinary tasksHow process-orientation supports psychological flexibility and resilienceIf you’re craving a slower, richer, more creative way of living — this conversation is for you. Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

    20 min

  5. FEB 18

    144. The Myth of Motivation (and What Actually Gets You Moving)

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! Many of us think we have a motivation problem. We call ourselves lazy. We say we’re procrastinating. We wait to “feel ready.” But motivation isn’t a personality trait — and it isn’t something you have to wait for. In this episode, psychologist and art therapist Amy Backos breaks down what 70 years of research actually says about motivation — including intrinsic vs. extrinsic drive, expectancy–value theory, attribution styles, and self-efficacy — and why labeling yourself “unmotivated” quietly undermines your ability to act. You’ll learn: What motivation really is (and what it isn’t)Why calling yourself lazy backfires neurologically and psychologicallyThe simple formula that predicts whether you’ll take actionHow your internal “story” shapes effort and persistenceACT-based cognitive defusion tools to stop believing every thought your mind throws at youHow to act before you feel readyIf you’ve been waiting for motivation to show up before starting your creative work, this conversation will change how you approach action entirely. Because you don’t need more motivation. You need a different relationship with your thoughts. Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

    30 min

  6. FEB 11

    143. Staying Steady in Difficult Times: Psychological Flexibility

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! If I could gift everyone one psychological skill right now, it would be this: psychological flexibility. Because when the world feels overwhelming — when the news is heavy, systems feel broken, and old wounds get stirred up — rigidity doesn’t help. Avoidance doesn’t help. Doom-scrolling doesn’t help. Adopting a stance of Psychological Flexibility does help. In this episode, I step back from the headlines and talk about something deeper: how humans historically respond when widespread trauma is exposed. We look at the psychology of denial, backlash, and disbelief — and why our nervous systems sometimes push away what feels unbearable. Then I teach you the skill I rely on most in my clinical work and in my own life: psychological flexibility. It’s the ability to stay present, make room for difficult emotions, and choose actions that align with your values — instead of reacting from fear or overwhelm. This isn’t about consuming more information. It’s about staying steady enough to make a difference. If you’ve been feeling anxious, discouraged, or emotionally flooded by the state of the world, this episode will help you ground yourself, protect your energy, and move forward with intention. Because we don’t need more reactivity right now. We need clarity, compassion, and values-based action. Welcome to The Modern Creative Woman. Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

    29 min

  7. FEB 4

    142. Art Therapy & Cultural Humility: Special Guest Dr. Louvenia Jackson

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! In this deeply meaningful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Lavinia Jackson — Chair and Professor of Art Therapy at Marymount University, scholar, educator, and one of the most important voices shaping the future of our field. Dr. Jackson is the author of Cultural Humility and Art Therapy, a book that has profoundly influenced both my teaching and my clinical work. Her leadership has helped move art therapy beyond “cultural competence” and toward something much more human and honest: cultural humility — a way of being grounded in curiosity, critical self-reflection, and respect for the lived expertise of the people we serve. Together, we talk about the origins of cultural humility, born out of the social unrest following the Rodney King riots, and how this framework asks us to move beyond checklists and techniques into deeper accountability — personally, relationally, and institutionally. We explore: why humility is the foundation of ethical therapy workthe difference between competence and curiosityhow relationship — not information — is what truly healsthe risks of disconnection in our AI and algorithm-driven worldand how retreat, travel, art-making, and embodied practices help us step back, reflect, and return to ourselvesThis episode is both scholarly and soulful — a conversation about integrity, presence, and what it really means to show up for others with openness. If you care about creativity, healing, justice, and becoming a more thoughtful human and clinician, this one is for you. Welcome to The Modern Creative Woman — where we explore the art and science of living creatively. Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

    51 min

  8. JAN 28

    141. Getting into Your Zone

    Ask me a question or let me know what you think! Pick our metaphor to make your life a little easier and more enjoyable. Getting into your zone is the key to living your purpose with clarity, intention, and creativity. Support the show Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/

    12 min
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4.9
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

The art and science of creativity, made simple. Through the lens of art therapy, neurocreativity, and cutting-edge research, you’ll learn not just why you create, but how to create with more freedom, intention, and joy. Dr. Amy Backos — author, art therapist, psychologist, professor and researcher, with 30+ years of experience — unpacks the evidence-based psychology behind creative living. Come for the science. Stay for the transformation.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Amy Backos
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    149
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Modern Creative Woman
  • Show Website
    The Modern Creative Woman