Writing as Therapy?
Creative writing has always been a means for addressing problems, identifying solutions, help deal with grief or provide a juicy story for sharing. Since I’m not a therapist, I can only speak from my experience with clients who are in therapy. With therapy, the healing takes a long time, usually is accompanied with pharmaceutical drugs and issues are not quickly resolved. Comments like: “let’s cover that next time” are frequently heard. Creative writing seems to get deep into the matter, quickly, more quickly than therapy, or so it seems.
Writing Coaches dig deep into the soul with questions that stop you dead in your tracks. Questions like – Mirroring Relationships; dialogue with pain; anger directed at yourself, etc. Call it what you want, writing is the means to creating what you really want in life by helping you deal with the pain of not having it so far. Art comes in as a close second for healing. Though many of us are not artists nor consider our stick figures something to hang in a museum. But those stick figures still hang in our hearts waiting to be coaxed onto the page to create a visual scene of something your heart is quietly mourning – because you continue to stuff feelings, guilt, anger and more.
Writing gets the words on the page, begins to heal your psyche and eventually your soul. Writing takes work. The work is a walk in nature, a chance to think, ponder and in the moment, put your thoughts on paper. Notice I said, writing takes work. It doesn’t take time, although that is the excuse I often hear… “I don’t have time to write.” But we do have time to watch TV, play video games, work overtime or waste time worrying.
The article posted in the New York Times Magazine, March 25, 2012 certainly talks about a trend that has been quietly taking a lead for quite some time. Creative writing as a healing tool! As a means of therapy – creative writing heals those wounds deep in our souls. The wounds that make us sad, in pain, angry and feeling unloved. Journaling can even be included as part of this “creative writing therapy” process.
Let’s look at an example: you have a problem with someone at work. You feel there is jealousy and undermining going on sabotaging your position. Hmmmmmm! I picked an interesting example for you. The writing exercises for this one might include:
* Describe the mirror in all of the relationships at work and life;
* What makes you angry about this situation?
* Why do you feel there is undermining going on?
* What are you doing to contribute to the problem?
* What can you do to create more harmonious relationships at work?
* What are you doing to love and accept yourself and others in the process?
* What does your inner child say to the other inner children in the office?
Wow! Now there are some interesting questions that creative writing can generate as an unexpected fiction story of children at play; or an opportunity for you to address what is going on within you, and the wounds it opens up from earlier times in your life. These are just a few examples of how to resolve the issue at work.
The journey is a long one since we all know we eventually get to the destination. Yet, along the path, we encounter obstacles that we create – whether we want to believe that or not. And when we see those obstacles, we learn through creative writing how to turn those obstacles into opportunities for personal, professional and spiritual growth.
Don’t want to do therapy? Then write. If you are in therapy, and your therapist tells you to journal everyday… then write! If you would prefer some guidance along the path… then ask for help via your writing! Asking for help is really a sign of strength. Yet asking for help has been interpreted as a sign of weakness by society, churches and even some employers.
Do you feel safer writing in a group? Groups come together with a common goal to love and support one another without judgment as each individual gets their words down on the page. Sharing is optional. Fixing the problem or fixing you is not the group’s goal. The group is merely there to love and support you along your journey. Occasionally, one or more in the group may want to work one-on-one with the writing coach to bring issues to the surface and help clear the way for a more fulfilling life.
Prefer to write independently? Staying on task with daily writing can be a challenge. The book, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron is an excellent source to use for independent writing and healing. Yet, many cannot finish the book on their own because of the issues it digs up. Writing coaches help keep you on task with turning the challenge into daily writing exercises steering you into your direction of choice. Meanwhile, helping you bring to the surface deep issues for clearing so your life can be more full and complete.
So, writing as therapy? You be the judge. My years of writing solutions to problems, building self esteem, identifying feelings vs. emptiness; dialoguing with pain; and more have taken me on some pretty interesting journeys. Along the way I have met some very interesting people, changed my thoughts, learned how to love and continue to grow – personally, professionally and spiritually. I’m not a therapist, though I have coached people for 20+ years on issues of careers, life and business. Funny, I always incorporated some type of writing in the assignments for my clients. Now, my creative writing workshops offer a variety of opportunities for you to grow, bring your inner child out to play and create a path for a journey of fulfillment.
Consider taking one of my creative writing workshops – to play or go deep. Some workshops offer fun, light exercises to skim the surface and let your inner child play in a safe environment. Other workshops of mine offer insightful exercises to get at the heart of issues deep inside – buried so deep you probably forgot they are there. Ongoing coaching using writing as the model, helps us work together on specific issues, while you use creative writing to bring to the surface solutions for you to heal and grow.
Take a few minutes to reflect on this page and wonder how my creative writing classes and individual coaching will offer you a chance to see the brighter side of life, have more love for yourself and others, and begin to heal those old wounds buried deep inside – wounds that surface when you are least expecting, and sabotage even the best laid plans.
If you’re not ready to take this journey, you may know of someone who is. So, please feel free to pass along my info to anyone you feel might benefit from my creative writing classes or individual coaching. Wishing you the best in your creative writing endeavors.
Warmest Regards,
In the Spirit of Love and Light,
Rosemary Augustine ~ Artist, Author and Coach
If the New York Times link doesn’t take you directly to the article, please google the following: New York Times March 25, 2012 article on creative writing and select the listing that says: Why talk therapy is on the wane… Note: Repeated attempts will request you to log in at the New York Times website and not take you directly to the article.
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