Ever written a teary email or letter to a recently broken-up from boy/girlfriend? Ever kept a journal? Ever written a letter to your local politician to vent your anger?
Creative Approaches
These are everyday examples of how writing can help release pent up emotions. Art therapy uses the production of images to release non-verbal thoughts and feelings; dance therapy uses movement as its primary mode and is very effective in releasing muscular tension; music therapy uses sound and rhythm and is very accessible for most people.
Certification
These therapies are all part of a nationally and internationally recognized standard but the use of writing as therapy is a relatively new field. The Poetry Therapy web site states that the first bibliotherapy training course was created by Arleen Hynes in 1974 in the U.S.A. Now it is possible to become a Certified Applied Poetry Facilitator (CAPF), a Certified Poetry Therapist (CPT) or, if you are already a registered health professional, a Registered Poetry Therapist (RPT). Poetry therapy encompasses bibliotherapy (the inter-active use of literature) and journal therapy – (the use of writing to reflect on life experiences).
Both reading poetry and reflecting on the deeper meanings has been shown to have a beneficial effect to the immune system and stress levels. Wikipedia lists James Pennebaker's research into the benefits of writing feelings put. Working as a psychologist he studied the phenomena of self-disclosure using a test.
In the test two groups of students were asked to write for 15 to 30 minutes a day for three to five days. A control group wrote about non-traumatic topics and the real group wrote about personal and deeply significant experiences or traumatic events. In the follow up evaluations it was found that those who were able to disclose about a traumatic experience felt much more positive and their bodies were shown to be much less prone to illness and stress.
What Can You Do?
There are many kinds of writing exercises. The simplest is to keep a form of journal or diary. This can take any form and is a place to write uncensored and free from any criticism or value judgment. In this case the page or the computer becomes a safe space to let out all emotions. Many other exercises can help people to gain a sense of control and meaning from a sense of inner disorder.
The Power of Stories
Storytelling has been a way to transmit information, but more than that to give people's lives a sense of meaning, a purpose. In his seminal book Man's Search for Meaning, Victor Frankl writes ”every age has its own neurosis, and every age needs its own psychotherapy to cope with it. ” (p.129) Kathleen Adams also runs the Centre for Journal Therapy which has courses and suggestions for where to get started.
E-mail Therapy
Still a relatively new field, email therapy is becoming popular for those who either don’t want to go to a traditional therapist or do not have time to do so because of various constraints.
Once a therapist has been found the process will begin with an initial assessment followed by an agreed number of “sessions”. The advantages of this kind of therapy are that people can work at their own pace. It also eliminates the factor of embarrassment, but it is not recommended for those with suicidal tendencies or immediate needs.
If you are feeling stressed, confused or just a bit low why not try some form of writing and see what happens? You never know what you might come up with and you could find that writing becomes a way not only to reconnect with yourself and heal but to share your creativity with others.
