
The Healing Power of Writing: An Introduction to Journaling Therapy
$88.00
Journaling in session or as homework opens up an entirely new dimension of therapeutic processing for our clients. But journaling is so much more than free writing. It also includes a host of expressive-writing techniques that you will learn in this training, such as unsent letters, lists of 100, sentence stems, AlphaPoems, dialoguing, clustering, touchstones, and more.
Many clients already journal on their own and will be curious about and open to the incorporation of expressive writing into their treatment. In fact, I have found that people are thrilled to have the opportunity to utilize creativity during their healing journey.
Journaling therapy is an evidence-based modality and has proven effective in addressing mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, grief and loss, low self-esteem, and substance abuse. Expressive writing also resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds, making it an indispensable part of any clinician’s toolbox.
In this training, you will explore the history of therapeutic journaling and learn a wide variety of ways in which expressive writing can be used with clients. We will also discuss how to help best clients create and maintain a consistent and fulfilling journaling practice outside of the session.
This training will be experiential and interactive, so please be sure to have a notebook or journal on hand!
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Teach the history of therapeutic journaling
- Identify the guidelines that should be used when deciding when and how to use therapeutic journaling
- Identify the principles behind different therapeutic journaling techniques
- Educate clients on the mental health benefits of therapeutic journaling
- Practice at least ten different techniques of therapeutic journaling
- Determine how to use therapeutic journaling with different populations
- Identify how to help clients build a structured and consistent journaling practice
Social workers completing this course receive 6 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 6 hours of Clinical continuing education training.
Course Instructor: Dreya Blume, MSW, LCSW
Recording Date: 10/05/2024
Recorded Live Webinar with downloadable presentation slides and/or handouts, evaluation, and a required quiz. The learner is required to pass with a 70% or higher to achieve the CE certificate of completion. The learner is able to reset the test until a satisfactory score is achieved. CE Training Workshops, LLC, provider #1770, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/2/2022 – 8/2/2025. CE Training Workshops, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Training Workshops, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device. For more information about our policies and board approval statements, please visit our FAQS page.
Dreya Blume, MA, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker, with her MSW from Radford University and an MA in anthropology from the University of Hawaii. Dreya has twenty years of experience working in mental health, from case management to intensive in-home services to leading groups for addicts in recovery.
The Healing Power of Writing: An Introduction to Journaling Therapy (6HR) Syllabus
I. Foundations of Journaling Therapy
- Definition of journal therapy as purposeful, life-based writing
- Goals: clarity, catharsis, insight, emotional processing
- Benefits include reduced stress, enhanced self-awareness, and improved regulation of emotions
II. Historical Perspectives and Pioneers
- Marion Milner’s autobiographical self-discovery approach
- Ira Progoff’s structured journaling system: period logs, steppingstones, dialoguing
- 1970s–1990s contributors: Christina Baldwin, Tristine Rainer, Kathleen Adams, James Pennebaker
III. Research and Evidence-Based Benefits
- Emotional and physical health improvements (e.g., blood pressure, immune function, reduced PTSD symptoms)
- James Pennebaker’s method and its widespread validation
- Positive psychology approaches to journaling (e.g., gratitude and reflection)
IV. Key Journaling Techniques
- Sentence stems and five-minute sprints
- Period logs and steppingstones
- Structured writes and clustering (mind-mapping)
- Dialoguing, unsent letters, alphapoems, list poems
V. The Journal Ladder and WRITE Method
- Adams’ “Journal Ladder”: sequencing techniques for deepening insight
- WRITE method: intention, reflection, investigation, timing, and exit reflection
- Toolbox of techniques for personalization and accessibility
VI. Using Prompts and Structured Activities
- Sentence stem variations for trauma, resilience, emotions, and healing
- Prompts for personal exploration (e.g., “I have birthed and buried…”)
- Chant poems, manifestos, and creative poetic forms
VII. Clinical Applications in Therapy
- Integration in sessions: as homework, warm-up, process tool
- Supervision and professional journaling for reflection and growth
- Prompts for clients to deepen awareness post-writing
VIII. Considerations for Diverse Populations
- Adaptability for adolescents, veterans, refugees, and people with chronic illness
- Relevance to conditions such as grief, anxiety, PTSD, IBS, and body image concerns
- Application in emotional intelligence training and identity work
IX. Overcoming Barriers to Journaling
- Common obstacles: perfectionism, time, privacy, writing discomfort
- Solutions: accessible materials, non-linear formats, affirming creativity
- Encouraging flexibility in format (e.g., visual journaling, typed entries)
X. Reflection and Integration
- Facilitating post-writing insights and therapeutic dialogue
- Encouraging self-compassion, forgiveness, and personal narrative coherence
- Using journaling to document and enhance the therapeutic journey