The following is a guide to therapeutic writing and how to get started. Writing is beneficial for all of us because it can be therapeutic. Writing provides an expressive outlet for emotions and feelings. One of the goals of therapy is to build a strong foundation of awareness that gives us the ability to observe our thoughts and feelings without being taken over by them.
Writing is a wonderful tool for building that foundation. Writing can help us track spinning thoughts and feelings. Externalising these thoughts and feelings in a creative way, such as writing, allows us to view those thoughts and feelings differently. Creating this healthy reflective distance between our thoughts and feelings can provide us with key insights. These insights can lead to changes in the way we think, respond and view situations.
There are a few different ways you can approach therapeutic writing. One of the easiest ways is to start a journal. Journaling is simply writing down whatever is on your mind for the purpose of understanding it more clearly. The benefits of journaling are numerous. Several studies have looked into the effects of journaling and its all pretty positive.
Journaling provides a good combination of creativity, meditation, cognition and sensori motor function (the physical act of writing) to activate many different parts of the brain and body systems. When we work with our emotions and feeling in such a holistic way we are able to provide ourselves with deep healing. Regular journaling can lead to increased emotional processing and integration which in turn lightens the load on our mind and body.
To get started make it easy for yourself. Keep pens and paper handy and try to write for a few minutes each day. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling or what others would think. Journaling is deeply personal and I encourage you to view it this way. Write to express not to impress. Write whatever feels right for you. That might change day to day so keep an open mind and let whatever comes to flow out on to the page.
This can be a bit uncomfortable at first. You might be very critical of what you write. I encourage you to persevere. If you find yourself stuck in place of self judgement write from that place or that voice, let it out. The point of journaling is to allow each and every part of you to speak. Its not all going to be poetry but some of it definitely will be.
Free writing is another therapeutic writing exercise that can be very similar to journaling. The difference is that you write non stop for designated amount of time. If this is new for you I’d recommend starting with just a few minutes at a time.
This type of writing can feel a bit strange. Free writing goes against our conditioned way of writing, which is considered, balanced, structured, and for others. Free writing challenges the body and mind to let go and this involves a bit of trust. So at first you may feel the urge to stop. Your mind may go blank, or you might have a repeating phrase of “I don’t know what to write” or “this is #@%*! stupid” .
This is totally normal. I encourage you to keep writing. Keep writing I don’t know what to write again and again. And after a while something else will come. It might be something you consider nonsense or quite abstract and it probably will be at times and at other times it will be a very rich statement or string of expressions that lead to a release of mental, emotional or physical energy or stress.
The aim of free writing is to allow the mind to share with you some of its uncensored material and this can provide some valuable keys to our ways of being. Both the act of free writing and the examination afterwards is whats therapeutic.
If you wish to go further you can. As you read back over your free writing some words and sentences may stand out or grab your attention. I encourage you to circle or highlight these words or sentences and then re write them on a separate piece of paper. Collect these words or statements and sit with them. Check in with your feelings or emotions as you examine them carefully.
You can then do another free writing exercise from this space and see what is revealed or you can arrange the words and make your own poetry. Please note that this can be a very powerful and revealing exercise. So practising self care is vital.
Enjoy free writing to create relaxation, build creativity and develop self trust. Free writing can be practised as often as you like. Many people have reported that starting their day with a few minutes of free writing, the moment they get out of bed instils a deep sense of calm and clarity for the day ahead.
Some people describe it as a mental detox that clears the mind and gives the feeling of a fresh start. This is particularly useful for anyone experiencing mind fog or mental fatigue upon waking.
In my therapy practice I might prescribe a guided writing exercise where I encourage the client to write about one of their experiences or feelings in a very detailed way. Following this exercise we discuss and explore what has been uncovered.
This supports the therapy process because it looks closely at all the elements of an experience. Such as thoughts, feelings, emotions, memory, smells, sounds, sensations, and context. It lays out all the retrievable information and provides an opportunity to make sense of our experience.
This is a great way of processing difficult experiences and often lessens feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelm associated with difficult, confusing or conflicted emotions.
Please note, guided writing can expose certain feelings that have not been processed. This can be confronting and uncomfortable. If you are wanting to try this type of writing therapy I suggest doing so in conjunction with counselling. If you are trying to make sense of a traumatic event that is very recent I do not recommend this style of writing therapy. Studies show that it is only useful for processing such events several months after they have occurred. If you a struggling with a recent traumatic event I suggest reaching out to a mental health professional.
Please note that journaling, free and guided writing may not be right for everyone. It is just one aspect of a good mental health management plan that should also include healthy food, avoidance of excessive drugs and alcohol, adequate sleep and regular exercise.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me here. If you are ready to take the next step and would like to schedule a free consultation please contact me here.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Therapeutic Writing and its Benefits
Therapeutic writing is a practice that involves using writing as a tool for self-expression and emotional healing. It provides an outlet for emotions and feelings, allowing individuals to observe their thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them. Writing can help track spinning thoughts and feelings and create a healthy reflective distance between them, leading to key insights and changes in thinking and responding to situations [[1]].
Journaling as Therapeutic Writing
One of the easiest ways to engage in therapeutic writing is through journaling. Journaling involves writing down whatever is on your mind for the purpose of understanding it more clearly. It is deeply personal and encourages individuals to write to express themselves, not to impress others. The benefits of journaling are numerous, including increased emotional processing and integration, which can lighten the load on the mind and body [[1]].
To get started with journaling, it is recommended to keep pens and paper handy and write for a few minutes each day. There is no need to worry about grammar, spelling, or what others might think. The goal is to let whatever comes to flow out onto the page. It is normal to feel uncomfortable or critical at first, but perseverance is encouraged. Journaling allows each and every part of you to speak, and while not everything you write will be poetry, some of it definitely will be [[1]].
Free Writing as Therapeutic Writing
Free writing is another form of therapeutic writing that can be similar to journaling. The main difference is that in free writing, you write non-stop for a designated amount of time. It challenges the conditioned way of writing and encourages the body and mind to let go. Initially, it may feel strange, and you may experience a blank mind or repetitive phrases like "I don't know what to write." However, it is important to keep writing, even if it feels nonsensical or abstract. After a while, something else will come, leading to a release of mental, emotional, or physical energy or stress [[1]].
The aim of free writing is to allow the mind to share uncensored material, providing valuable insights into our ways of being. Both the act of free writing and the examination afterwards can be therapeutic. As you read back over your free writing, certain words or sentences may stand out or grab your attention. It is recommended to circle or highlight these and rewrite them on a separate piece of paper. You can then do another free writing exercise from this space or arrange the words to create your own poetry. Practicing self-care is vital during this process [[1]].
Guided Writing as Therapeutic Writing
Guided writing is a form of therapeutic writing where the individual is encouraged to write about a specific experience or feeling in a detailed way. This exercise allows for a close examination of all the elements of the experience, including thoughts, feelings, emotions, memory, smells, sounds, sensations, and context. It provides an opportunity to make sense of the experience and can be helpful in processing difficult experiences and reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm [[1]].
It is important to note that guided writing can expose certain feelings that have not been processed, which can be confronting and uncomfortable. If you are interested in trying this type of writing therapy, it is recommended to do so in conjunction with counseling. Additionally, it is not recommended for processing recent traumatic events, as studies show it is most useful several months after the event has occurred. If you are struggling with a recent traumatic event, it is advised to reach out to a mental health professional [[1]].
Considerations and Conclusion
While therapeutic writing, including journaling, free writing, and guided writing, can be beneficial for many individuals, it may not be suitable for everyone. It is just one aspect of a good mental health management plan, which should also include healthy food, avoidance of excessive drugs and alcohol, adequate sleep, and regular exercise. If you have any questions or are interested in scheduling a free consultation, it is recommended to contact a mental health professional [[1]].
