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We discover the advantages of therapeutic writing and the way it might help you
My days are inclined to have the identical bookends. My mornings begin with a 10-minute meditation they usually finish with a 10-minute journaling session. Writing in a journal is one thing I’ve been doing since I used to be 12 and, throughout a very robust time once I developed an consuming dysfunction, I consider it was one of many instruments that saved me afloat.
Back then I had by no means heard the time period ‘therapeutic writing’ however, once I replicate, I realise that’s probably what I used to be doing – utilizing the standard pen and paper to discover the chaos I used to be experiencing internally, in a bid to free it from my thoughts. Don’t get me mistaken, I nonetheless wanted help from psychological well being companies and a therapist, nevertheless it definitely helped.
Now we’re all a bit of extra conscious of psychological well being and what can help it, a few of us have probably seen the time period therapeutic writing tossed round. But what precisely is it?
What is therapeutic writing?
“I passionately believe that any form of writing can be therapeutic and that creative writing for therapeutic purposes encompasses a huge spectrum – from single words to lists, letters, poems, journals, and even the writing of entire books,” counsellor and artistic writing for therapeutic functions (CWTP) practitioner Hazel North tells us.
“Writing is a very safe way of allowing us to explore our thoughts and emotions; our relationships; our life stories; our dreams and aspirations. It can support us to make sense of things, to overcome trauma, to make changes in our lives, to find our voice and to understand ourselves better.”
Hazel goes on to notice that therapeutic writing shouldn’t be about producing work of literary advantage. Instead, it’s about freedom from constraints like spelling, punctuation and grammar (although, she explains some therapeutic work might be crafted and edited for publication).
“Essentially, therapeutic writing is about private writing to help your personal wellbeing. In therapeutic writing it’s the strategy of writing which has the potential to heal not the tip product.”
Is there a distinction between journaling and therapeutic writing?
When I feel again to the best way writing supported me once I was struggling, there have been two strategies that stood out to me; journaling (writing no matter was on my thoughts) and extra structured writing (for instance, writing a letter to my consuming dysfunction as suggested by my therapist). This led me to query Hazel about any variations between journaling and therapeutic writing.
“Journaling is of course therapeutic and most journaling includes writing. It comes under the huge umbrella of what is known as creative writing for therapeutic purposes (CWTP),” Hazel explains.
“How they may differ is that writing is about words; journalling may also have a strong visual element with pictures, photographs, textiles.”
For me, each types helped. With extra common journaling, I used to be capable of untangle ideas and scribble visuals, and with the writing workouts given by my therapist, I might discover methods of dealing with the precise points I used to be having.
Is therapeutic writing proper for me?
If this all sounds intriguing to you, Hazel’s recommendation is to choose up a pen and provides it a attempt. “It’s very important to silence the inner critic and to know that there are no rules and that it is safe, fun, and that there is no such thing as ‘doing it wrong’. You are not writing an essay for a critical English teacher.
“Free-form writing where you scribble down whatever comes into your head is a good starting place and if you give yourself a time limit of six minutes it may seem less daunting.”
Hazel additionally recommends working with a writing for wellbeing tutor, both one-to-one or in a bunch. She additionally highlights that some counsellors, like herself, combine writing into their therapeutic work.
“Writing for wellbeing workshops and courses are also widely available both face-to-face and online. Your local library or Adult Education service may run these and I recommend checking out the Lapidus organisation – an international community for writing for wellbeing. It can be great fun working in a group of like-minded people.”
Ready to delve deeper into the world of therapeutic writing? Here are some sources to get you began:
If writing is one thing you recognize you don’t like, or maybe you’ve tried it and located it unhelpful, that’s OK. Writing shouldn’t be for everybody so it’s vital that you just discover what does be just right for you. You might lean extra in direction of arts, discovering it useful to precise your self by artwork, dance or drama. Perhaps you course of higher if you vocalise – why not document a voice notice (to your self or a good friend) and see how that makes you are feeling? It could also be that you just profit probably the most from going out on a protracted stroll with simply your self and your ideas.
Whatever instrument you employ, the useful factor right here is reflection and tuning into the way you’re feeling and what you want. Even although I’m 15 years into my restoration, I proceed to make use of my journal to remain in contact with myself. I’m happy to say the entries look far brighter at present and I do know I can thank writing, partially, for that.
If you’re focused on working with a therapist and making a protected house to discover your inside world, go to Counselling Directory.