What is Gateways Coaching?

Gateways is a coaching method designed around the needs of artists and other creative professionals in transition. The method is goal-oriented and addresses familiar thematic challenges of the creative process. Gateways Coaching was originally inspired by Jungian psychology, Robert Fritz and other mavericks of creativity, as filtered through the lens of founder Barbara Bowen's career life and training. As clients gain insight, they are led to develop a plan to take sensible new risks toward new goals, on their own terms. Each step forward is supported by momentum-building tools, custom designed to client needs.

Code of Ethics

Barbara Bowen is a New York based professional writer/photographer and founder of Gateways Coaching. Barbara has been helping artists and creative professionals in transition for over ten years, and deeply involved in artistic expression for over 20 years. In Chicago, she owned and managed a successful photography business for 12 years. She was deeply involved with film and theatre during those years, and many of her scripts were staged. Barbara's professional experiences led to a fascination with the nature of creativity itself. She completed a 500-hour certification in healing arts through the New York National Association of Poetry Therapy. In New York, she is affiliated with Union Theological Seminary, and was a long time member of the Healing Arts Network at The Energy Center, Brooklyn. She is currently enjoying a balance between her own artistic projects and helping others as a coach/consultant.

Barbara's duel major in Theatre/Communications led to a full spectrum of theatre experience at Hope College, whose summer repertory theatre season has garnered international acclaim. While maintaining her livelihood in the Chicago photography world, she was continuously immersed in theatre and film. Many of her scripts had Chicago productions, and she was a script supervisor on projects for La Barraca Theatre and Vital Visions Film Productions. She also conducted workshops on creativity with children and adults in various Chicago venues.

Through many trials and pitfalls, Barbara stumbled into significant universal keys that open creative expression.  She discovered symbolic values in myths and dreams, which offered stunning "windows" into her own creativity and motivated her study. She found effective models in the works of Carl Jung and others who helped her to live from her creative core, and to actualize a deeper sense of calling. The GATEWAYS method is a unique integration of basic Jungian ideas and other models, and is a fulfilling way to share valuable tools that enhance creativity and career growth.

Barbara is currently developing a project related to the front lines of positive global change. Her most recent articles have appeared in Spirituality and Health Magazine, and Traveler's Tales: Turkey Edition. Other contributions have appeared in Health Magazine and Body Mind Spirit Magazine, online.

Barbara's photography is represented by Solus Images, New York.

Gateways Philosophy:

We live in a society which often fails to nurture the creative aspects of our nature. Systems--educational, religious, corporate, even family systems--are useful for their contribution to social order. However, when systems harden and become rigid, they cease to be life-giving and rarely foster the creative process. In fact, they often become life-depleting. The flow of creativity and the disruption of the flow, is a cycle that has thematic aspects. These themes may be discerned and addressed according to individual need. GATEWAYS themes are derived from a unique blend of mythological traditions and healing arts, all grounded in Jungian concepts. Gateways coaching strives to help clients strike a balance between art career market needs and personal fulfillment. And to achieve success on their own terms. Whether you are a professonal artist, working in a related art career, or simply wish to pursue a new creative goal, your obstacles can become "gateways" to deeper alignment with creative calling. (See How Does Gateways Work?)

More on Carl Jung:

The works of depth psychologist Carl Gustav Jung have significantly influenced Barbara’a artistic work.  His central ideas also inform the core of her GATEWAYS Artist Career Coaching method.  Jung viewed the unconscious as a repository of wisdom. He asserted that human growth is an inner process whereby the "shadow" (or hidden) elements may emerge into the light of consciousness. This empowers our creativity, bringing us closer in touch with nature, self, society, and spirit. By living more richly and fully, we enlarge our lives.  Jung gave us valuable tools for building bridges between spirit and nature, mind and body, self and universe.  Gateways Artist Career Coaching helps artists to build bridges between creative calling and its actualization. GATEWAYS employs universal themes to shed light on the creative process, and to help clients deepen insight.  Universals provide "windows" into creativity. As we look into the universal theme, our own uniqueness is revealed, and we are empowered by the understandings gained.  In this way, each window becomes a "mirror."

Notes On Freedom:

Read what people from all walks of life have to say about the concept of freedom.