How Journaling Can Help Heal Trauma

Trauma of any kind can make it difficult for someone to live a "normal" life. What can help a trauma victim is journaling. To help understand what type of impact a trauma can have on someone's overall life and how through journaling someone can heal from trauma, I have interviewed psychotherapist Miriam Kuznets.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
"I've been a psychotherapist for sixteen years now in Austin, Texas. It's a privilege to talk to my clients about their inner lives, their challenges and their progress. I find it adds a lot of meaning to my own life. I see therapy as a shortcut to having the best possible relationship with oneself, with others, and with one's priorities. I try to provide a safe, respectful environment for my clients to open up about their issues for better understanding and clarity about what will help them. In therapy, I ask questions and suggest perspectives that the clients might not have thought of themselves.

Before becoming a psychotherapist, I got a Master of Fine Arts degree in fiction writing . Fiction writing has been therapeutic for me, as has reading. Unlike fiction writing, writing for therapeutic purposes is not writing to make a polished story but just to get the thoughts and feelings out of one's head onto paper."

What type of impact can trauma have on someone's overall life?
"Often clients see their trauma as radically changing and influencing their lives forever. Trauma can literally change the brain by the stress it causes. Experiencing trauma is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and diminished physical health. Fortunately, therapy and writing can help clients rebuild their lives and resilience. Sometimes clients recognize that the lemonade from the lemon of trauma is that they have more compassion for others and gratitude for what is good in their lives; they've learned important life lessons."

How can journaling help someone heal from trauma?
"Journaling is a form of expression different from speaking in that it can be more deliberate, easily reviewed, and private. Writing is not as time-bound as speaking, so thoughts and feelings are often fine-tuned when put into writing. Sometimes we don't know what we think or feel until we put it into writing. By opening up about traumatic events and the associated emotions, the writer can experience catharsis and insight. The page can be an empathetic, nonjudgmental 'listener,' a friend."

What are some journaling tips you could give for someone that wants to start journaling and help heal their trauma? "It's beneficial to have a framework and boundaries for therapeutic writing. The writing should be as specific as possible about the thoughts and feelings the writer has. The writer will benefit from not editing or trying to make the writing readable to anyone else. The writing may be emotionally painful, and that's a normal part of the process. If the writing starts to feel re-traumatizing, the writer may need to stop and may benefit from discussing it with a licensed mental health professional.

I often recommend Writing to Heal: A guided journal for recovering from trauma & emotional upheaval by Jame Pennebaker, PhD ( New Harbinger Publications , 2004). Pennebaker is a psychologist who has done extensive research about the therapeutic value of writing. In my work with clients, I also provide writing prompts based on an individual's situation and stated goals."

Thank you Miriam for doing the interview on how journaling can help heal trauma. For more information on Miriam Kuznets or her work you can check out her website at http://www.prismnet.com/~mkuznets/index.html.

Recommended Readings:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6114982/emdr_therapy_an_effective_treatment.html?cat=5">EMDR Therapy: Effective Treatment for Trauma

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6041508/how_trauma_is_connected_to_the_body.html?cat=5">How Trauma is Connected to The Body

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5992282/how_to_overcome_post_traumatic_stress.html?cat=5">How to Overcome Post Traumatic Stress Disorder