---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't really write for catharsis; I get…"
description: "\"I don't really write for catharsis; I get that kind of work done in therapy.\" — Mary Gauthier"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/mary-gauthier-4834_catharsis_i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get_776282.png"
---

#  I don't really write for catharsis; I get that kind of…

![“I don't really write for catharsis; I get that kind of work done in therapy.” quote by Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/mary-gauthier-4834_catharsis_i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get_776282.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/mary-gauthier-4834_catharsis_i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get_776282.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/mary-gauthier-4834_catharsis_i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get_776282.png)

> “I don't really write for catharsis; I get that kind of work done in therapy.”

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She separates artistic creation from personal therapy, using other outlets for emotional work.

**In simple terms:** She writes songs, not to process emotions.

Key Takeaway

Use distinct channels for art and therapy.

Themes

creativity mental health boundaries

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

artistic personal

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- counseling sessions
- personal journaling
- creative workshops

Key Concepts

artistic expression therapeutic practice

Questions to Reflect On

- Can separating art from therapy affect authenticity?
- How do you balance personal healing with public expression?

A Different Perspective

May limit emotional authenticity in art.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Catharsis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catharsis/) [Catharsis Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catharsis-kind-5990425/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-done/) [Work Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-therapy-1935276/) [Write Catharsis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-catharsis-4408430/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't write for catharsis; I have to write to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-don-t-write-for-catharsis-i-have-to-write-to-understand/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

> [I don't do my best work while I'm in therapy. I'm too onto myself immediately seeing meanings in things and more likely to censor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-don-t-do-my-best-work-while-i-m-in-therapy-i-m-too-onto-myself/)

[Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/)

> [I've never had therapy. Maybe the work is the therapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-pryce/i-ve-never-had-therapy-maybe-the-work-is-the-therapy/)

[Jonathan Pryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-pryce/)

> [Work is my joy... Work is my therapy, I don't know anybody who loves work as much as I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/work-is-my-joy-work-is-my-therapy-i-don-t-know-anybody-who-loves-work/)

[Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/)

> [My work is often a therapy for myself - a working out of these issues as a black woman. And a way of allowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/my-work-is-often-a-therapy-for-myself-a-working-out-of-these-issues/)

[Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/)

> [Work is therapy for the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/work-is-therapy-for-the-soul/)

[Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/)

> [I've come to terms with the fact that I'll probably be in therapy all of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-ve-come-to-terms-with-the-fact-that-i-ll-probably-be-in-therapy-all/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I thought music could take you to a place where you didn't even feel ownership of it, you just felt lucky you were there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-schultz/i-thought-music-could-take-you-to-a-place-where-you-didn-t-even-feel/)

[Wesley Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-schultz/)

> [Rarely is the pain of losing someone expressed with such directness, energy, and, yes, humor. The grief in Evan Kuhlman'sWolf Boyis palpable, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/rarely-is-the-pain-of-losing-someone-expressed-with-such-directness/)

[Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/)

> [Good practice, everyone," Rusty said at last. "Light on the actual learning, heavy on the emotional catharsis, and thanks to Jared I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/good-practice-everyone-rusty-said-at-last-light-on-the-actual/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [It's difficult to define catharsis. But I think that only those who acknowledge and respond to unseen worlds and energies can harness the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyon-gyon/it-s-difficult-to-define-catharsis-but-i-think-that-only-those-who/)

[Hyon Gyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyon-gyon/)

> [This living, this living, this living Was never a project of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/this-living-this-living-this-living-was-never-a-project-of-mine/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Music is my catharsis for that. It's an incredible blessing that I have this way of expressing myself through music and lyric, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimbra/music-is-my-catharsis-for-that-it-s-an-incredible-blessing-that-i/)

[Kimbra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimbra/)

> [A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself . . . with incidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-tragedy-is-the-imitation-of-an-action-that-is-serious-and-also-as/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

## More by Mary Gauthier

> [What I really like is this salted calamari - with jalapenos on top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/what-i-really-like-is-this-salted-calamari-with-jalapenos-on-top/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [The world doesn't need any more pretty good songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/the-world-doesn-t-need-any-more-pretty-good-songs/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I don't have the experience of being in a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-don-t-have-the-experience-of-being-in-a-war/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I did not know that if a member of a family serves, the whole family serves. I did not know that the spouses of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-did-not-know-that-if-a-member-of-a-family-serves-the-whole-family/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I think each veteran's soul has something that it needs to say. I know from my own personal traumas, it's very hard to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-think-each-veteran-s-soul-has-something-that-it-needs-to-say-i-know/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [The job of the artist is to go to the places where most other people are embarrassed to go to. And show it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/the-job-of-the-artist-is-to-go-to-the-places-where-most-other-people/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [There's an ocean of misunderstanding. It's called the civilian-military divide. I had a lot to learn about our military - who they are, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/there-s-an-ocean-of-misunderstanding-it-s-called-the-civilian/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I would make a terrible soldier, because I don't follow orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-would-make-a-terrible-soldier-because-i-don-t-follow-orders/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I've come to terms with the fact that I'll probably be in therapy all of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-ve-come-to-terms-with-the-fact-that-i-ll-probably-be-in-therapy-all/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [It can take me many months to write one of my own songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/it-can-take-me-many-months-to-write-one-of-my-own-songs/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [If you don't have a record deal, you've got to be a record company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/if-you-don-t-have-a-record-deal-you-ve-got-to-be-a-record-company/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I did not know that the wounds of war are often invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-did-not-know-that-the-wounds-of-war-are-often-invisible/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I'm a traveler and a vagabond and an observer, and the songs come through that. And that's just the way it's going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-m-a-traveler-and-a-vagabond-and-an-observer-and-the-songs-come/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [A song is an emotional lightning bolt - a good one, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/a-song-is-an-emotional-lightning-bolt-a-good-one-anyway/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I think it's a stereotype that soldiers don't talk, because my experience is that they will talk if they are met with empathy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-think-it-s-a-stereotype-that-soldiers-don-t-talk-because-my/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

[Explore all 106 Mary Gauthier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

## More Catharsis quotes

> [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself . . . with incidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-tragedy-is-the-imitation-of-an-action-that-is-serious-and-also-as/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Music is my catharsis for that. It's an incredible blessing that I have this way of expressing myself through music and lyric, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimbra/music-is-my-catharsis-for-that-it-s-an-incredible-blessing-that-i/)

[Kimbra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimbra/)

> [This living, this living, this living Was never a project of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/this-living-this-living-this-living-was-never-a-project-of-mine/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [It's difficult to define catharsis. But I think that only those who acknowledge and respond to unseen worlds and energies can harness the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyon-gyon/it-s-difficult-to-define-catharsis-but-i-think-that-only-those-who/)

[Hyon Gyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyon-gyon/)

> [Good practice, everyone," Rusty said at last. "Light on the actual learning, heavy on the emotional catharsis, and thanks to Jared I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/good-practice-everyone-rusty-said-at-last-light-on-the-actual/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [Rarely is the pain of losing someone expressed with such directness, energy, and, yes, humor. The grief in Evan Kuhlman'sWolf Boyis palpable, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/rarely-is-the-pain-of-losing-someone-expressed-with-such-directness/)

[Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/)

> [I thought music could take you to a place where you didn't even feel ownership of it, you just felt lucky you were there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-schultz/i-thought-music-could-take-you-to-a-place-where-you-didn-t-even-feel/)

[Wesley Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-schultz/)

> [My view of actors is that basically they're all harmless lunatics who'd be on the psychiatrist's couch, except that we get this sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/my-view-of-actors-is-that-basically-they-re-all-harmless-lunatics-who/)

[Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/)

> [Knowing about comedy has helped me with the drama. To see people laugh, it's like there are moments of catharsis in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/knowing-about-comedy-has-helped-me-with-the-drama-to-see-people-laugh/)

[Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/)

> [I still wrestle with the catharsis of acting. I don't end up playing a lot of likable characters, so I find myself living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ransone/i-still-wrestle-with-the-catharsis-of-acting-i-don-t-end-up-playing-a/)

[James Ransone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ransone/)

> [ Was there happiness at the end \[of the movie\], they wanted to know. If someone were to ask me today whether the story of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/was-there-happiness-at-the-end-of-the-movie-they-wanted-to-know-if/)

[Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/)

> [Life goes on, unmindful of beginning, end…crisis or catharsis, moving forward like a slow, dusty caravan of kochis (nomads).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/life-goes-on-unmindful-of-beginning-end-crisis-or-catharsis-moving/)

[Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/)

> [The thing should have plot and character, beginning, middle and end. Arouse pity and then have a catharsis. Those were the best principles I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/the-thing-should-have-plot-and-character-beginning-middle-and-end/)

[Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/)

> [“That's what it is. That's what my morning was like: all these real physical heavy positive vibrations, the soul of this tape. The fuzzy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/that-s-what-it-is-that-s-what-my-morning-was-like-all-these-real/)

[John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/)

[Browse all 112 Catharsis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catharsis/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't really write for catharsis; I get that kind of work done in therapy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mary Gauthier"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get-that-kind-of-work-done-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Catharsis"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get-that-kind-of-work-done-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/mary-gauthier-4834_catharsis_i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get_776282.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/mary-gauthier-4834_catharsis_i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get_776282.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/mary-gauthier-4834_catharsis_i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get_776282.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't really write for catharsis; I get that kind of work done in therapy.” — Mary Gauthier",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mary Gauthier",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't really write for catharsis;...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get-that-kind-of-work-done-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-don-t-really-write-for-catharsis-i-get-that-kind-of-work-done-in/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
