Resilience, Grit, Flexibility
The mental strengths of artists
A sustainable artistic career requires more than talent and technical skill—it demands mental strengths that help artists navigate uncertainty, setbacks, and the ever-changing nature of their work. In this workshop, we focus on resilience, grit, and flexibility: adaptable psychological traits that can be cultivated and integrated into a holistic artistic approach.
While some artists may see these qualities as being at odds with creative sensitivity and spontaneity, we explore how they can, in fact, support artistic freedom and long-term sustainability. Resilience helps artists recover from challenges without losing creative momentum, grit fosters the persistence needed to bring artistic visions to life, and flexibility allows for adaptation without compromising artistic integrity.
This experiential learning environment invites participants to:
Engage in guided self-reflection to identify personal patterns of resilience, grit, and flexibility.
Experiment with practical strategies for strengthening these mental qualities in both creative and professional contexts.
Exchange perspectives with peers, recognizing the diverse ways in which artists cultivate inner strength.
Explore how to balance perseverance with creative openness, discipline with play, and structure with spontaneity.
Through interactive exercises, discussion, and real-world applications, this workshop provides a space to develop sustainable mental habits that align with individual artistic identities. Participants will leave with deeper insight into their own mental strengths and practical approaches to applying them in their artistic and professional lives.
About Heather:
Heather O’Donnell is a psychologist (M.Sc.), Artistic-Systemic Therapist (DGSF), and the founding director of TGR The Green Room. Drawing on her own transformative journey from professional pianist to therapist after career-disrupting injuries, Heather has spent years developing innovative approaches to support individuals seeking health recovery, self-actualization, and sustainable well-being.
Her academic path began with a B.Sc. in Psychology from Freie Universität Berlin, followed by an M.Sc. in Prevention and Health Psychology from SRH Hochschule. She also holds a certificate in Musicians’ Health from the Kurt Singer Institute / Universität der Künste Berlin and is trained as a mindfulness teacher (MTTC) by Christopher Titmuss and Ulla König and as an Artistic-Systemic Therapist (DGSF).
Heather specializes in helping clients move beyond dead-end situations, exploring the root causes of blockages and uncovering blind spots. She works with individuals navigating illness and health challenges, career transitions, and major life restructurings. Having lived across multiple continents, Heather also supports clients in understanding and navigating intercultural dynamics, providing guidance rooted in personal experience and cultural insight.
Beyond her one-on-one work, Heather advises organizations on systemic change and leadership development, fostering healthier, more sustainable workplace cultures. She has presented at international conferences, including the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) Symposium at University College London (2024) and Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City (2017, 2021), the European Network of Cultural Centers’ (ENCC) conference in Spain (2022), OTM On The Move’s forum on Mental Health & International Cultural Mobility (2023), the World Piano Conference in Serbia (2016), and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Germany (2015).
As a guest lecturer, Heather has worked with institutions such as Columbia University, the New England Conservatory, Rhodes University in South Africa, and the Lebanese Higher Conservatory of Music. From 2017 to 2019, she served as a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music, offering workshops on well-being and professional development. In 2024, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC).
Heather’s mission is to help clients (re)discover their potential, find resilience, and design ways of living that align with their values and aspirations.