Writing as Therapy by Stephen Burckhardt

Writing as Therapy by Stephen Burckhardt

When discussing the idea of journaling, many individuals will automatically envision a young girl lying on her stomach on her bed, kicking her feet up behind her, as she writes in a pink diary with a fuzzy tipped pen about some secret crush whose name she surrounds with little hearts. Or, if you are of Mean Girls generation, the image brought to mind might be less innocent and a bit more spiteful. (Mean Girls, Paramount Pictures 2004)

While these Hollywood driven images might hold some truth, in a few cases, journaling has become a popular activity that spans across generations and genders. While basic journaling can have psychological, and to some extent, physiological benefits, it is very different from the type of directed writing used for therapy.

Writing in a diary or basic journaling tends to be more free form. An individual will record their thoughts or feelings or just document recent events. They can journal as a form of self-inspiration to help visualize and manifest their hopes and dreams and set personal goals. If you walk into any bookstore or search online, you can find numerous journals available for purchase. The books range from completely blank pages to guided journals with writing prompts.

Basic journaling can help reduce stress, improve memory, and provides individuals a way to record and analyze events in their lives outside of the emotions of the moment. It can provide a way to express feelings an individual may not be comfortable sharing or expressing in any other form.

I was personally introduced journaling while going through seven surgeries in six months in 2004. Six of those surgeries were brain surgeries. After months of repeated trauma, it was suggested that I journal to help deal with stress and improve my impaired memory function. It proved to be an invaluable tool for my recovery. While basic journaling does provide the writer with valuable benefits there is still more to be gained with therapeutic writing.

Therapeutic writing is done with a specific purpose in mind, often driven by writing prompts which are guided by a licensed mental health professional. The course can be guided alone in a one-on-one session or in a group setting. It can be directed by a professional in person or through one of many online services that are now available.

American social psychologist James W. Pennebaker is credited with being a pioneer in therapeutic writing. In the late 1980s, Pennebaker conducted a voluntary therapeutic writing study involving 46 college students. The participants were divided into two groups. Both were instructed to write for 15 minutes without stopping.

The first group was told to write about mundane topics without expressing their emotions or opinions on the subjects. The second group was instructed to write about a deeply traumatic event from their past. The study produced a surprising result. In the months following the study, the group who wrote about past trauma had fewer visits to health services. Since his study was published in 1986, numerous professionals have explored this field and expanded on his study. (Pennebaker, Beall, Aug 1986).

In study after study, therapeutic writing has shown to not only have beneficial psychological effects but physiological as well. In general, it has been theorized that therapeutic writing can boost an individual’s immune system. However, it is believed that the benefits may be temporary, and the writing therapy would need to be ongoing to sustain the benefits. (Smyth, Stone, Hurewitz, & Kaell, 1999; Murray, 2002).

Writing therapy is proving to be a useful tool to assess and treat numerous conditions dealing with trauma and other psychological issues. These can include but are not limited to: post-traumatic stress, depression, marital and/or family issues, gender identity, eating disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, and so many more.

Whether you choose to stop by your neighborhood bookstore and pick up a blank or a guided journal to begin this journey by yourself or if you decide to seek out professional services for a more therapeutic writing session, you will find the experience can be beneficial. In many cases, individuals who journal have reported feeling less stress, improved memory function, greater creativity, and being more self-aware among other benefits. With all the stress associated with the holidays, maybe now is the time to introduce your loved ones to the gift of journaling.

Stephen Burckhardt was born and raised in Kansas. He started his career in advertising and design at the age of 17. He earned a degree in journalism and certification in forensic criminology from Wichita State University. Stephen has written for several publications as well as briefly working in broadcast news and as a ghostwriter. In 2004, Stephen required seven surgeries in six months, six of which were brain surgeries. He has three neurological conditions for which he has found writing to be effective therapy. In 2013, he met and married the love of his life, P.R. Burckhardt. The couple later rescued their dog, Shaggy. In 2015, Stephen self-published his first novella, Into the West: The Orphan Train which is a finalist in the 2019 TopShelf Indie Book Awards. He’s currently writing part four of his Into the West Saga Serial, Into the West: Most Wanted. Visit www.StephenBurckhardt.com for more information.