Ep02 – Courtney Shawl: Songwriting for Healing & Human Expression Through AI

In this episode of Writer Therapy Sessions, we talk with author, music therapist, and entrepreneur Courtney Shawl about creativity, healing, songwriting, AI, and the deeper reasons people feel called to make art in the first place.Courtney shares her journey from music therapy and songwriting to self-publishing, mentorship, and building creative communities around expression and healing. We discuss writer’s block, artistic identity, belief, persistence, and how AI can be used as a powerful creative tool without replacing the human imagination behind the work.The conversation explores how songwriting can help people process emotions, why expressive arts matter for healing, the realities of self-publishing, and the tension between creating art for fulfillment versus fame, validation, or money. Courtney also breaks down how she uses AI in her workflow—from outlining books and organizing ideas to designing book covers and demo tracks for music.Topics include:• Writer isolation and creative community• Songwriting as therapy and self-expression• AI-assisted writing and music creation• Self-publishing and creative entrepreneurship• Mentorship, belief, and overcoming creative blocks• Book cover design, branding, and visual simplicity• Art for healing versus art for recognitionChapters:00:00 – Writer Therapy and Isolation07:31 – The Role of AI in Writing and Music Creation14:18 – The Impact of Belief and Mentorship on Success20:00 – The Ultimate AI Cheat Code28:20 – AI in Book Cover Design33:31 – Expressive Arts in Healing41:40 – Art for the Sake of Art vs. Fame and MoneyFollow Courtney Shawl:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneyschawl/Book. Brand. Business: http://skool.com/bookbrandbusinessOne Day Songwriter: http://skool.com/onedaysongwriterBooks: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Courtney-Anne-Schawl/author/B0FPRNZPPX?shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=bf0dadb9-caa8-4d92-85f3-471b78793883If you’re a writer looking for a focused, encouraging, and authentic creative community, join us at skool.com/writertherapy. Writer Therapy features focused critiques, personal interviews with writers, live writing sessions, and a curated community for serious authors who want meaningful conversations about the craft.Whether you’re outlining your first idea, deep into revisions, or somewhere in between, you are welcome here.