3. Writing In A Journal
Writing down thoughts is beneficial in therapy for a number of reasons. Firstly, by journaling, the patient is displaying their thoughts on paper, rather than holding onto them, which acts as a form of stress release. It allows them to take control of their feelings, and the beauty is that they can write whatever comes to mind. The flow of thoughts often results in profound realizations as the words reach the paper and allow the patient to view these thoughts in a new light.
Often people who are suffering from a mental illness don’t have the ability to express themselves clearly to others or feel that they struggle to communicate with their therapist during sessions. Journaling is a way of indirectly communicating, both with themself and with the professional helping them. It’s helpful for the psychologist to have access to the journal, to pinpoint key problems and track progress and patterns in their thinking.