Contemporary Artists as Shaman

Denita Benyshek, Ph.D., LMHC, is a professional artist, a mental health counselor, and an interdisciplinary researcher on contemporary artists as shamans. In 2019, Through a traditional naerim gut ritual, Dr. Benyshek was initiated as a shaman by two Korean manshin (masters of a thousand spirits) and their mudang assistant.

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Professionals in psychology and psychiatry traditionally are not trained to counsel artists, which leads to a tendency to pathologize certain aspects of the creative process and, at times, artists themselves. This presenter's model of "artists-as-shamans" offers a conceptual framework encompassing illness, spiritual emergency, initiation, and a seer's ability to identify problems and needs in individuals and societies. Her presentation will address techniques to access previously unavailable realms of knowledge and explore how to channel this energy for healing and creation. This model provides a new perspective that integrates the spiritual and creative processes and empowers artists and mental health care providers to identify and address creatives' mental health care needs. 

Embracing the transformative power of art and recognizing the integral role of artists in our communities will lead to a deeper understanding of the needs of creatives and artists and encourage a more holistic approach to counseling and supporting creatives.

Let us embrace art's transformative power and recognize artists' vital role in our communities.