Writing as Therapy

Writing as therapy
I admit it. Even as a therapist, I’ve never really understood journaling… until recently. In the past, each time I would sit down at the keyboard or with a pen in hand and would end up often more frustrated than when I began. 

Come up with something! I would tell myself. Almost as if I could will myself into writing something of value that would make me feel better. For years, I didn’t get it. Why do so many in my field recommend this as a go-to coping skill when it’s so hard to do? As a CBT and DBT therapist, I believe strongly in practicing the skills I encourage from my clients. 

What changed you might be wondering? 

The biggest change was taking the pressure off. I stripped away the “rules” I had placed on journaling including a time parameter and expecting a specific calming result. I removed the expectations of what many of us associate with journaling.

The result was my first novel Secret Keeper: the Joys And Struggles of being a therapist. It didn’t happen in one sitting. Instead, this book was a series of journaling moments, reflecting on my professional world that so few know much about. 

If you’ve tried and not loved journaling, much like me, I encourage you to remove the rules. Write when you feel driven to do so. And if you find yourself wondering if therapy might help you in some way, check out Secret Keeper: the Joys and Struggles of being a therapist.