Hello hello! I’m TJ Walsh

Coach. Artist. Therapist. Brand Strategist. Guy Who Gives Many F*cks.

(Basically, East Coast swag meets Brené Brown at an art show.)

I’m the one people call when they need a catalyst.

For creative breakthroughs.

For personal & profesh growth.

For bold, values-driven branding.

And for building communities that actually feel like community.

TALK TO ME

If you’re here you’re probably…

  • craving more freedom and creative expression.

  • ready to evolve into leadership.

  • who’s lost touch with purpose (and maybe yourself).

  • wants to build something real, not just something that looks good online.

You don’t need another strategy. You need a space to remember who you are.

SCHEDULE A CLARITY CALL

WORK THAT CONNECTS YOU BACK TO YOURSELF. (AND THE WORK YOU’RE MEANT TO DO.)

  • For healers, creators, and leaders ready to expand beyond burnout and align their next chapter.

  • For professionals ready to clarify their story, elevate messaging, and communicate with genuine power.

  • Creative, restorative containers where emotional insight meets expressive practice.

  • For when your life, practice, or platform needs an artistic eye and a therapist’s depth. Let’s align the inner and outer worlds of your brand so it finally feels like you.

  • For the helper or creator who’s ready to refine what they stand for, and how they say it. You’ll leave with language, clarity, and conviction that sound like the real you.

  • For healers, educators, and leaders ready to translate their ideas into transformational experiences.
    From concept to curriculum, we’ll build something that moves people.

  • For those who’ve lost touch with their art, writing, or sense of play.
    Rediscover your creative voice through guided experimentation and Emotional Alchemy™.

  • For founders, directors, and clinicians leading humans for a living.
    Build the courage, communication, and composure to lead with humanity intact.

  • A deep-dive session that blends creativity, psychology, and strategy.
    We’ll pinpoint what’s stuck, name what’s trying to emerge, and design your next move.

  • For those who want to share their work without the cringe. We’ll create a sustainable, aligned approach to visibility rooted in story, not strategy hacks.

SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER

Transformation isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about reclaiming yourself.

My framework, Emotional Alchemy™, isn’t about fixing yourself; it’s about reclaiming yourself.

  • Purpose: Awareness and identification.

    You begin by naming what’s present — the emotional residue, tension, or internal material that lingers after an experience. Naming what’s been avoided, repressed, or carried unconsciously allows it to come into conscious view.

    Practices:

    • Stream-of-consciousness writing or spontaneous mark-making.

    • Saying out loud, “Something in me feels…” (IFS-informed language).

    • Using color, gesture, or symbol to represent emotion without needing words.

    Goal: Develop emotional literacy and awareness.

  • Purpose: Containment and compassion.

    Once named, the work shifts to holding — creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for what’s been revealed. Holding doesn’t mean fixing; it’s about being with. In therapy or art-making, this becomes the “container” where transformation begins.

    Practices:

    • Slow breathing and body awareness while looking at the art or words created.

    • Grounding in the present moment.

    • Using visual containment (e.g., framing, borders, or layered materials).

    Goal: Build tolerance for complexity and emotional regulation.

  • Purpose: Transformation through process.

    Metabolizing is the alchemical digestion phase — where emotion moves through the system. This may involve expression, physical movement, artistic creation, or somatic release. It’s the phase where emotion becomes energy again.

    Practices:

    • Continuing to work the material through painting, collage, or movement.

    • Journaling to notice shifts in meaning or perspective.

    • Letting intuition lead instead of intellect.

    Goal: Shift from emotional reactivity to integration and flow.

  • Purpose: Integration into creative or relational expression.

    Transmuting is the conversion of what was once heavy or stuck into something new — art, insight, connection, or action. This is where the lead turns to gold, and you begin to see how emotional residue can be a creative resource.

    Practices:

    • Sharing insights with a trusted witness or group.

    • Refining artwork, writing, or story from the earlier stages.

    • Translating new understanding into relational repair or leadership choices.

    Goal: Transform emotion into meaning, wisdom, or creative output.

  • Purpose: Embodiment and alignment.

    Integration closes the loop. The insights and shifts become part of your lived experience — informing how you lead, relate, create, and make decisions.

    Practices:

    • Ritual closure (signing a painting, breathwork, reflection).

    • Noticing ongoing resonance and how you carry yourself differently.

    • Returning to creative practice regularly as maintenance.

    Goal: Emotional coherence, embodied authenticity, and sustained alignment.

It’s how we turn emotional residue into resource, fear into fuel, and confusion into creative direction.

EXPLORE THE EMOTIONAL ALCHEMY LAB™

LISTEN TO THE BOLD CREATIVES COLLECTIVE PODCAST

The BOLD CREATIVES COLLECTIVE Podcast is home to deep AF interviews, personal conversations, and live coaching that reveal the humanity behind our artistry.

You’ll hear from creatives of all stripes as actual human beings – like you! – not just prolific creators.

And yes, because I know you’re here for it, you bet your ass you’ll also get a peek behind the creative curtain to hear what their artistic practices are like, how they produce their work, and how they prefer to put themselves and their work out into the world. 

Guests include musicians, producers, actors, visual artists, designers, directors, marketers, and more successful creatives than you can shake a stick at. 

Listen in for inspiration and insight into their success via personal stories, real world examples, and tools that bring a human approach to your own creative life and work.

The BOLD CREATIVES COLLECTIVE Podcast is where we get to the human heart of art.

LISTEN & L-O-V-E

  • Confetti Aftermath (Acrylic, Flashe, Spray)

  • Breath Between Moments (Acrylic, Flashe, Spray)

  • Implicit Ghosts (Acrylic, Spray)

  • Map for Lost Things (Acrylic, Flashe, Spray)

  • What You Thought Was the End Was Just a Bend (Acrylic, Flashe, Spray)

  • Gravity and Other Lessons (Acrylic, Flashe, Spray)

  • Everything is Temporary, Even This (Acrylic, Flashe, Spray)

  • The Gospel According to Uncertainty (Acrylic, Flashe, Spray)

  • Cultural Weather Report (Digital)

  • Unsupervised Gesture (Mixed Media)

  • A Storm in Bright Clothing (Acrylic)

  • Ash & Honey (Mixed Media)

  • Accumulated Light (Digital)

  • Double Exposure (Acrylic in Sketchbook)

  • Bright Rupture (Mixed Media)

  • Foam (Acrylic, Spray)

  • Diptych of a Nervous System (Acrylic, Spray)

MEET TJ

I’m an internationally exhibited artist, creative clinician and coach, brand strategist, and Licensed Professional Counselor with professional and academic street cred a block long.

But you want to know the reason I do what I do?

It’s because I’ve been through some shit and know how life-changing it is to be witnessed by others.

When I was in art school, two of my professors saved my life.

It was the end of the semester, all my art was up on the wall, and I was ready for their crit.

But instead, they stopped me and said, “We're not going to critique your work just yet. We need to talk with you. You entered our classroom in August as one person and we’ve seen you become a completely different person physically, emotionally, and mentally over the past three months.”

I stood there blown away.

I was in the middle of an active eating disorder.

These professors, people who were invested in my academic achievement and art practice, saw me and made it clear that what I was going through was more important than anything going on in their classroom.

I do what I do now because I’ve experienced what it’s like to be seen – not just as an artist, but as a human being.

I became a professional artist, curator, coach, therapist, strategist, and professor because I was shown love that day.

So when we work together, know this –

I love people. I love artists and creatives. I love who we are and who we are to each other. We have the power to change and co-create each other’s entire f*cking lives.

Here’s to the honor and privilege of co-creating yours.

BOOK A CALL

WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY

“Forget golden nuggets, all of TJ's programs drip pure gold. After working with TJ and attending his events, I walked away feeling validated and empowered to keep showing up and doing my work.”

“TJ is so incredibly supportive and really knowledgeable about the inner work we need to shift from where we are to where we want to be!”

“Given the quality of experiences I've had in programs and interactions with TJ, I knew this event would be a worthy investment of my resources. On the other side of it, I am so grateful that I made this commitment.”

“TJ is passionate about helping people discover and understand their potential and his commitment to this is obvious in his meticulous planning, production, and execution of a very informative and well-received workshop event.”

“I had a hard time defining myself, but after taking TJ’s Mindfulness, Mindset, Mapping Your Story workshop, I started thinking about MY story, MY value as an artist, and what it means to me to be an artist. The workshop helped my visual understanding of how I define myself as an artist.”

“You have a gift for creating programs that help so many. You’re inspiring.”

“I came to the Sandbox feeling embarrassed and even ashamed that I hadn’t been working in my studio or attending any art related functions. Not at all like myself as a creative. Having a group where everyone could share similar struggles in a safe environment with no sharp edeges, coaching and encouragement from Nathan and TJ, and great prompts to get me thinking got the momentum to start shifting. I am back in my studio working and that has been a huge step for me.”

“[The Sandbox] was right on time and just what I needed during such a time of turbulence. It's crazy how it was called the Sandbox when at the onset of it, I literally felt heavy like I was sinking in quicksand. But, I was reminded of how to play which then turned that heaviness into feeling lighter. I was then transformed into playing in the sandbox with other great creatives rather than sinking in quicksand alone. I felt stuck but the reflections made me realize I was in a deep rest that needed to be acknowledged for it being just that without judgment. Thank you for the space! It was right on time!”

“Inspiring and very helpful in organizing thoughts and practical tools for a brand and leadership development.”

“[TJ’s workshop] was super helpful to pause and think about all of the meaning behind my brand and story!”

“TJ is an engaging, passionate, & humorous speaker.”

“TJ’s talk and workshop was creative, entertaining, & helpful.”

“TJ did an amazing job and made me feel confident in knowing what I value & bring to the field of mental health.”

So, what are we waiting for?

BOOK A CALL

The Practice of Staying Human: A look inside the art, the chaos, and the ongoing experiment of being real.

The Practice of Staying Human: A look inside the art, the chaos, and the ongoing experiment of being real.

Explore the Emotional Alchemy™ Substack

Blending psychology, art, & leadership insight to help you
lead with empathy, create with integrity, and live with coherence.