Creative Journal Writing for Clinical Practice

Instructor: Sibel Golden, PhD, LMHC, REAT

Hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location: Ballard Studio Works
1417 NW 54th St, Suite 212
Seattle, Washington, 98107

Description:

The benefits of journal writing are many. Support in recovery, stress reduction, working with anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating

disorders, to name a few. Journal writing increases self-awareness and the development of inner resources. It can also play support resilience, creativity, and increased focus. This workshop offers hands-on activities to explore bringing creative journal writing into your life and your work with clients.

Creative Journal Writing blends writing techniques with other creative arts modalities to offer a powerful, multi-modality approach.

This workshop will present various journal writing approaches and techniques. The four modes of expression: free intuitive, description, catharsis, and reflection set the stage for exploring various techniques such as alternate point of view, unsent letters, dialogue, and time-lines. This workshop will also present the techniques of Pennebaker’s Expressive Writing, as well as Metcalf’s Proprioceptive Writing.

We’ll use poetry, collage, and drawing to bring an integrated arts perspective to journal writing.

 

This workshop offers 6 WMHCA approved CEUs.

 

OBJECTIVES:

 

1. Participants will learn basic tools and techniques of creative journal writing
2. Participants will learn how to bring the creative arts into journal practice
3. Participants will learn how journal writing offers clients a tool that can be used to work with a variety of issues, such as stress, anxiety, and grief, as well as enhance wellness, focus and mindfulness practice.
4. Engaging in hands-on experiential activities, participants will learn how to confidently offer creative journal writing options to clients.

 

WORKING OUTLINE:

9-9:15

Introductions

9:15-9:25

Freewriting—Warming up, freeing up

9:25-9:45

Lecture—Modes of Expression, Pennebaker

9:45-10:30

Alternate points of view—explanation and experiential

10:30-10:45

bio break

11-12

Proprioceptive Writing—practice & discussion

12-1.

Lunch

1-1:45

Working with Images—using images as prompts

1:45-2:15

Non-dominant hand—exploring this technique with various prompts

2:15-2:30

bio break

2:30-2:50

Poetry—simple techniques and practice

2:50-3:30

Collage—adding this technique to the journal, experiential

3:30-3:45

Taking the practice forward, discussion

3:45-4

Evaluations