How to journal for therapy

[almaty 19]

Keeping a journal can be a great form of therapy. Journaling allows people to let out all of their emotions. This is healthy; research and counselors agree that keeping emotions and feelings inside of people only causes more self-destruction in the long run. Some people may think that keeping their feelings inside of them is "proper" and "polite." They are proven wrong once they have let everything build up inside of them, only to have it exploding out of them at a later date.

Therefore, keeping a journal is a very easy way to help yourself through problems and ordeals; it is a form of self-help, or self-therapy.

Keeping a journal for therapy is not the same thing as keeping a journal in which you write down every day things that happened such as "Went to the movies today with Sarah." Journaling for therapy is much more in depth than that, and wrenches at your very heart and soul.

Here is an example of how one could go about getting the maximum benfits of journaling for therapy:

1. Find a quiet, possibly secret place. Maybe it will be a place that you will always do your journaling. Just make sure that no other people are going to come in and disturb you.

2. Possibly play some music, if you think that won't distract you too much. Classical music, or nature/only instruments music is probably best.

3. Just sit and relax for a few minutes before you go about writing.

4. Now really place your heart on your sleeve (or the paper). Cleanse yourself of all worries, problems, fears, etc. that you are going through. The way to do this is simply to write down every single worry, fear, or problem that enters your head. Don't be afraid to write ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that pops into your head. This is only for your eyes- no need to be embarrassed. Also, you need to be honest with yourself. Being honest with yourself will also help your self-esteem and show you your true self.

5. Examine every feeling, worry or fear and everything else that comes into your head. Why are you feeling this way? See if you can come up with a reason why you are feeling this way, and jot that down as well. Try to examine every fear and worry from every possibly angle. (Why am I feeling like this? When did these feelings start? What are my future plans for dealing with this problem?). Don't stop until you have beat the problem to death with all of your questions. You may find that you get bored with the problem- or that you don't remember why it was such a problem in the first place (of course, that depends on the problem).

6. Don't let time set limits on you. Preferably, you should write in your journal when you have a lot of free time, maybe on a Saturday morning or afternoon-- not on a night when you know that you have to go to softball practice in a half hour- don't pick a time when you will feel rushed. You will not reap all the benefits of writing in your journal if you do it when you feel rushed.

7. Don't let any thoughts, fears, worries, problems or anything else like that remain in your head. Remember to write everything, no matter how awkward, in your journal. Just don't forget to leave it in a secret hiding place after you are done writing where snoops won't find it!

The benefits are wonderful if you really do go by these guidelines and do this every day (or every time that you are going through a rough spot). Getting all of your emotions and fears onto paper does just that- it gets all of those thoughts out of your head and onto the paper- those feelings have left you and are now on paper for the paper to worry about and not you.

An added extra about journaling is that you can always go back and read over your journal entries. This can help you learn how you deal with problems, and possibly how to deal with future problems. It also can help you learn a great deal about yourself.

i use this with clients who have issues ranging from time management..anger mgt. ..stress reduction, etc.. i offer it here as a way for those apart to journal daily their thoughts and emotions..about missing their significant other...also, your partner, can do the same thing and when togehter, look back...

also, can be used with couples, who are togehter, to have some part of their life, where they feel free to express their thoughts they made be repressed within the relationship...

no charge..dr. dean

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

and what dean does not say is if you can't handle the anger and snap....the journel can always be used at your trial

[almaty 19]

and what dean does not say is if you can't handle the anger and snap....the journel can always be used at your trial

excellent point brother charles, also, i make them bring their journal in..and read through it and cancel the next appointnmet is it says.." i am going to kill that son of ####### dean, with a straight razor, next session"

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

and what dean does not say is if you can't handle the anger and snap....the journel can always be used at your trial

excellent point brother charles, also, i make them bring their journal in..and read through it and cancel the next appointnmet is it says.." i am going to kill that son of ####### dean, with a straight razor, next session"

Are you really a therapist?

[almaty 19]

yes..i am ...for a long time

[Jaseball 0]

I've kept a journal for years. Mainly electronically now, broken down by years, and encrypted.

There have been times in my life where writing in the journal does help with frustration, helps me organize my thoughts, gives me insight and a new way of considering things, and it even generates new ideas.

I find I usually write when things are hard or negative. When I am happy I'm too busy being happy and don't record those times or details because I am too busy enjoying myself to bother. When I write when I'm happy it is really short entries.

Meeting my girl, our relationship, and this visa process has generated quite a bit of writing. I examine our relationship, question the immigration process, think about the future, worry about problems, etc.

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

yes..i am ...for a long time

How in the world can you sit there and listen to people complain all the time. I'd have to be dopped up on drugs to listen to people's problems and complaints about the world.

But I have to say that journal idea is a good one, to get all the negativity out of you. I'm thinking of starting up something like that. Worse thing is if that super secret journal gets found by someone you are writing about.

[almaty 19]

true, need to hide or code your journal..allot of folks, put code words etc..

[Nessa 23]

yes..i am ...for a long time

me treat you looooooooong time

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I've tried it before but found it really hard not to self-censor out of fear of it getting into the hands of the enemy.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

I've tried it before but found it really hard not to self-censor out of fear of it getting into the hands of the enemy.

Same here

Saludos,

Caro

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I've tried it before but found it really hard not to self-censor out of fear of it getting into the hands of the enemy.

Same here

Saludos,

Caro

Maybe burning the pages after writing so that no one else would ever read them?

[JVKn'CVO 11]

I've tried it before but found it really hard not to self-censor out of fear of it getting into the hands of the enemy.

Same here

Saludos,

Caro

Maybe burning the pages after writing so that no one else would ever read them?

Keeping it 1 or 2 weeks then burning it sounds ideal to me. That way, it gives you time to go back and reflect on that past experience. It’s nice how it gives you a new perspective on what you were feeling at that time.

Saludos,

Caro

[almaty 19]

yes..i am ...for a long time

me treat you looooooooong time

that my sister...

[almaty 19]

when people journal...they hacve to be honesty with their self and not censor..you need to develop a code,......also, done on a computer ..with a password protect document....