Therapeutic Journal Writing. An Introduction for Professionals

Citation

McArdle, S. (2012), "Therapeutic Journal Writing. An Introduction for Professionals", Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 71-71. https://doi.org/10.1108/09641861211286339

The book is part of an excellent series by Jessica Kingsley called Writing for Therapy or Personal Development which is edited by the country's leading exponent of writing for personal and professional development, including in therapeutic contexts. The author herself is a qualified counsellor as well as having been trained in the specific therapeutic technique she is advocating. Training in the use of “therapeutic writing” in its different guises is well established in the USA. Journal Therapy is one such manifestation.

Within the context of the broader model of “therapeutic writing”, the book provides a very practical and useful introduction to “journal therapy”. However, there is a fundamental flaw in this work, in that the broader context of “therapeutic writing” is not first sufficiently explained before introducing “journal therapy”. Given that the series in which this sits is intended to develop the theoretical context in which all of this field exists, this is a serious shortcoming. I was surprised by this omission, as the author is certainly mindful enough to take care in not writing about “journal therapy”; as it has no basis in this country as a legitimate pursuit. She is careful to describe her work as “therapeutic journal writing”. That is, the opportunity to keep reflections on one's own experience in order to develop and change in areas where we are facing personal difficulties.

As such, this introductory book is a “must” for any practitioner interested in developing the techniques or model in their own work. Part 1 provides the novice with some “Understanding of the Basics”. It is very basic indeed, but certainly sufficient to provide a starting point for those who are new to the subject. I actually liked the couple of pages on the six “groundbreaking” authors in this field very much. However, for anyone familiar with the field, it can be missed. Part 2 on the use of Structured Techniques is excellent. Likewise, the discussion of Less Structured Techniques in Part 3 is first class. It is in these sections that the book becomes the engaging and accessible book described in the publisher's blurb. It is a very clear guide. Part 4 gave information on Applications for Practice. As such, it can only ever function as a preparatory reader for a practitioner already working within a pre‐existing model and with a recognised training, who would realise the need to take this material as a springboard to further reading, thinking and supervision before taking the step of introducing “therapeutic journal writing” into their work. However, with the aid of this book practitioners will find they can do so with the confidence and conviction intended by the author.