Personally, writing has always been my go-to coping strategy. It's how I've made sense of the world, processed emotions, and made decisions for my future. It makes sense that I would share this as an intervention with my clients. However, research supports writing as an effective tool for healing, too.

 

Studies have shown that "writing can not only help us process what we’ve been through and assist us as we envision a path forward; it can lower our blood pressure, strengthen our immune systems, and increase our general well-being. Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity." (Quote taken from Writing Can Help us Heal from Trauma by Deborah Siegel-Acevado in the Harvard Business Review).

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This can be done in several ways: through journaling exercises with prompts, free writing exercises, or more creative interventions such as writing with your non-dominant hand. Writing can help us process uncomfortable or distressing memories, work through mental and/or emotional blocks, and access deeper thoughts and emotions that aren't available through spoken language.