Welcome to Muse: A newsletter helping creative people master the creative process with expert guidance and insights from a therapist, fine artist, and author (that’s me)!

I am so glad you are here.

Whether you’re looking to move through creative blocks, bring renewed energy to leadership, cultivate inspiration, or simply pause to reflect, Muse is a space for nourishment, support, and community. Each issue is designed to spark your curiosity, offering thoughtful perspectives on creativity, leadership, and the delicate balance between productivity and rest.

Alongside expert guidance on the creative process, you’ll find provocative takes on perfectionism, comparison, and competition, plus the occasional ode to skateboarding.

For Free Subscribers

You’ll receive thoughtful doses of guidance and inspiration:

• 1st Sunday: The Muse Essay
  A deep exploration of the psychology of creativity, insight, and the practice of making.

• 3rd Sunday: These Three Things: Guest Edition
  A curated spotlight on working creatives sharing their own practices, insights, and lessons learned.

For Paid Subscribers

The full Muse experience. Every Sunday morning, a letter lands in your inbox. A moment to think together in the quiet early hours of the week.

• Dear Creative: A 5-day immersive experience (every first week of the month). Part practice, part pep talk, written directly to your inner artist.

• In Practice
  A monthly theme to help structure, support, and your creative momentum no matter where you are in your process.

• These Three Things: Practice Edition
  The original noticing practice, now with prompts and deeper reflections.

• Unlearned
  Insights from featured creatives on what they’ve had to release to grow.

• The Creative
  A meditative response to a quote on creativity. Equal parts contemplation and motivation.

Muse is here to remind you that your creative process is worth honoring, your insight is powerful, and your work matters.

About Me

Hello! I’m Lisa Anderson Shaffer — therapist, mentor to creative professionals, fine artist, author, mother, energy practitioner, and deep thinker (also: mediocre skateboarder).

I’ve spent nearly 20 years as a licensed therapist helping creatives move through blocks, burnout, and emotional overwhelm toward clarity, confidence, and meaningful momentum. As a mentor and muse, I work with artists, musicians, writers, designers, and daring leaders to cultivate lasting, innovative work that feels alive and aligned.

My approach lives at the intersection of creativity, psychology, and energetic insight, grounded in the belief that artistic expression is profoundly transformative.

I hold a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MA in Clinical Psychology from San Francisco State University. My career has included work as an Artist-in-Residence at a San Francisco hospital, Director of Counseling Services at a fashion college, specialist in adolescent crisis intervention, and founder of the internationally recognized jewelry brand Zelma Rose. I’m also the host of the psychologically minded podcast Joy is Now and author of These Three Things, a guided journal based on a daily writing practice that captures the art of noticing and reflection.

I live in the wilds of Marin County, where nature continually inspires my work and contemplations on life. Being immersed in the creative process brings me immense joy, it’s what drives me to support others in theirs. I believe when we share our struggles, our breakthroughs, and the full humanity of making, we connect in the most meaningful ways.

Working with Me 1:1

When you work with me 1:1, you gain a dedicated partner in your personal and creative evolution. Together, we’ll navigate challenges, harness your strengths, and design a path forward with intention.

My approach is personalized and rooted in my Creative Signature system. A unique framework to help you master the creative process that blends intuitive guidance, energetic tools, and proven strategies for building sustainable creative practices. Whether you’re working through a block, looking to sustain momentum, or bringing new energy to your leadership, I offer a reflective, supportive, and transformative space for growth.

Let’s unlock your creative genius and have a little fun along the way.

Work with Me!

I live in the wilds of Marin County, where I’m surrounded by the beauty of nature, which inspires both my work and my contemplations on life. Being a part of the creative process brings me immense joy. It makes me feel alive and what drives me to mentor and support others. I’ve found that through sharing our struggles, our breakthroughs, and the inevitable uncertainty of being human, we can connect in profound ways.

Thank you for being here. I’m honored to share this space with you, and I look forward to connecting with intention, wild creativity and lots of fun!

Let’s also connect on Instagram.

xxx

Lisa

Disclaimer: Muse is a space for reflection, creativity, and guidance, but it is not intended to be therapy or a replacement for professional mental health services. While I bring my background as a therapist into my work, I’m here as a guide, muse, and fellow traveler on this creative journey, not in my clinical role. If you’re in need of individual or group mental health treatment, please reach out to professional mental health services in your area.