Journal therapy

What is journal therapy?

Journal therapy involves writing down your feelings and thoughts to help you sort through problems and to gain a better understanding of yourself and the issues or challenges in your life. The focus during journal therapy is not on day-to-day events, but rather on the internal experiences of the writer, his or her perceptions and the way he or she reacts to events and experiences.

Putting thoughts and feelings down on paper allows the writer to stand back from it, to see it more clearly and to gain a different perspective to his or her behaviour and emotions. It allows the writer to become an objective observer to his or her internal en external conflicts and to see these conflicts for what they really are. How journal therapy works

Journal therapy has two facets:

• • In-session journaling, where the therapist may ask the writer to write a paragraph or two on something specific, to help bring focus to what needs to be addressed during the therapy session

• • Home-work journaling, where the writer is encouraged to write down his or her feelings and so forth at home, whether on a specific issue or just in general.

What are the benefits of journal therapy?

The list of conditions or issues that can be addressed through journal therapy is endless. Some of the benefits have been proven through studies and include the following situations:

• • A reduction in flashbacks, nightmares and traumatic memories in people who have post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD)

• • A reduction of symptoms in people who suffer from anxiety, panic and depression

• • Lower evidence of symptoms in chronic health conditions such as arthritis and asthma

• • Improvement in cognitive function

• • Strengthening of the immune system

• • Gaining more from therapy in general

• • Coping better after bereavement or relationship breakups.

 

Sources
journaltherapy.com
www.goodtherapy.org
www.mytherapyjournal.com