Faculty Insight is produced in partnership with Harvard University Extension School, and ThoughtCast. This fourth interview of the series is with Shelley Carson, an associate of Harvard University’s Department of Psychology, a lecturer at Harvard Extension School, and also a blogger for *Psychology Today* and the *Huffington Post*. Carson’s scholarship focuses largely on the connection between creativity and mental illness. While it’s common knowledge that artists and writers have a tendency towards depression (and alcoholism), only recently has the link been so clearly established. But Carson also argues that creativity is not just the province of an elect few, it’s a trait that, with a bit of effort, we can all claim for ourselves. Her new book, called *Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity and Innovation in Your Life*, lays out a clear method for awakening and encouraging our own inherent creativity. Carson’s expertise also extends to the subject of resilience, and if there’s anything this planet needs, it’s the ability to bounce back, and live to fight another day. Her research has also caught the attention of the Department of Defense, where she consults on web-based PTSD treatments for soldiers recovering from trauma.
