Expressive Writing: Words That Heal

Overall this was a very helpful book for getting me to work through a bit of past trauma.I was actually surprised at how effective it was for helping me rethink a few events in my life and express my feelings / thoughts openly. I would argue this book has helped me become a better writer as I find myself doing poems and writing people more honestly and openly.I definitely do not send all of the things I write to friends / family and this book recommends not doing that for traumatic or life changing events. Sometimes, keeping a confidential journal even your partner or spouse cannot get access to is important for your health and relationships.I like to shred my writings afterwards to help me heal. Personal preference, but it functions as both a reminder that "it's over" and keeps my writings 100% secure from people that should not read them.In terms of effectiveness - I think this book is definitely 5/5 stars.NOTE: please remember not to get consumed with expressive writing. You can get carried away if you do not set a time limit for this. I spent an 8 hour day working on writing and it was too much. Speaking with a licensed therapist or close friend / family member about trauma can also serve as a mechanism for healing and being understood. I suggest sticking to what the book recommends - 20 minutes max - during one day.TLDR: Overall excellent book but don't spend more than 20 minutes a day doing this to prevent "ruminating" on the past. Trusted friends / family and therapists also can be accessed to help heal from trauma.

Great guide to an under used practice, provides the research summaries and a very simple and practical guide for expressive writing practice. Writing for twenty minutes a day for four days - about a difficult event - is something most anyone can do, and research studies show that the practice provides positive health and mental health outcomes. Really. Very good book, I will use it it in my therapy practice.

Use of language in thinking, writing and talking is a good way to balance and to integrate our cognition and emotion. Writing is better than just thoughts and talking as the process of writing concretise what we think and how we feel. This is what I conclude after reading this book.

I’m a psychotherapist, and have used this book as a tool to help patients with trauma, and to work through blocks to creative expression. I’d recommend it to anyone inclined toward journaling, or who’s curious about using a writing guide for self-exploration.

Interesting read.

Dr. Pennebaker has been a profound inspiration to my work since the late 80's and has always been a generous resource as I have studied writing for healing, to obtain a PhD and MS with my focus on using programmed writing and poetry for managing trauma. This new book is an elegant addition to his body of work. It is sharp, concise, consistent with the science and research he has done, and adds another dimension of "how to's" with the contributions of John Evans. The book is accessible enough to recommend to clients to use on their own, and academic enough to recommend to students or care providers who are new to the work of using writing for healing. As an Author, Educator, and Licensed and Registered Expressive Art Therapist I am delighted to add this new book to my library and once again appreciate the elegant blend of science and art of Jamie's work that allows writing as a self-regulating methodology for healing to continue to rise above the "noise" in today's treatment-de-jour marketplace.

I was skeptical about getting this book at first. I was pleasantly surprised that doing the writing activities daily yielded results for me. I felt like I had a breakthrough about a trauma that I hadn't really shared with anyone.I didn't read the book front to back, instead looking for the activities inside, and I found them enjoyable. Like anything self-help, you get out of it what you put into it, and it's not going to appeal to everyone. It did help me get some closure I needed, and I intend to continue doing the 6-week writing. I would recommend this to friends or family (and have).

Very helpful research and writing exercises