Writing it Out: Journaling as an Adjunct to Therapy

Lisa M. Schab, MSW, LCSW
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CE Credit Hours : 2
Intermediate Learning Level Intermediate
Online Course Online
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Customer Testimonials

Course Abstract

Writing it Out: Journaling as an Adjunct to Therapy is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that discusses why and how to use journal writing as a therapeutic tool.

Using journal writing as an aid to the therapeutic process is not an unfamiliar idea. Keeping a journal has been practiced by patients of cognitive therapists in an attempt to help identify and correct negative thought patterns, by Jungians to record dreams, and in the Japanese Morita therapy for the treatment of neurosis. Sigmund Freud professed his belief in the diary as “a key to the psyche” in his preface to Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl.

While most psychotherapy is conducted through traditional “talking therapy,” having a client express himself through the written word offers another way to let him vent his thoughts and feelings, and to gain information about his internal and external experiences of life. Journaling also fosters self-awareness in the client, and helps to develop and nurture a relationship between each client and himself. This course includes descriptions of the various uses of journaling as well as detail on seven journal-writing techniques that you can use with clients.

Closeout Course #20-13 | 2003 | 21 pages | 12 posttest questions

Learning Objectives

  1. List five principle ways to use journaling as a therapeutic tool
  2. Identify the basic guidelines for using all types of journaling exercises
  3. List the therapeutic benefits of the writing process
  4. Identify seven specific journal-writing techniques
  5. Identify ways to apply writing techniques to fit the needs of the client

Course Directions

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. The course is text-based (reading) and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).

Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, 3 chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation.

About the Author(s)

Lisa M. Schab, MSW, LCSW : Find out More

Lisa M. Schab, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in the greater Chicago area. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in interpersonal communication from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in clinical social work from Loyola University.  Ms. Schab is the author of fourteen self-help books including Writing it Out: Self Awareness and Self-Help through Journaling; The Anxiety Workbook for Teens; Beyond the Blues; The Divorce Workbook for Children; Cool, Calm, and Confident; The Bulimia Workbook for Teens; and The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens. She is available for speaking and consultation on a limited basis. For more information, visit: http://lisamschabooks.com

Disclosure

Financial: Ms. Schab receives royalties from New Harbinger Books and Guidance Group Books on sales of her books and from Professional Development Resources, Inc. on sales of her courses.

Nonfinancial: No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

CE Information

Counseling

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Approved Continuing Education Provider

Professional Development Resources (PDR) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5590. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. PDR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135 - Note: New York counselors will receive 2 continuing education credits for completing this self-study course).

Marriage and Family Therapy

American Psychological Association Approved Sponsor

Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100 - Note: New York MFTs will receive 2 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

Nutrition and Dietetics

Professional Development Resources is a CPE Accredited Provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR #PR001). CPE accreditation does not constitute endorsement by CDR of provider programs or materials. Feedback for this activity can be sent directly to CDR. Professional Development Resources is also a provider with the Florida Council of Dietetics and Nutrition (#50-1635) and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

Download CDR's Critical Thinking Tool - CDR credentialed practitioners must complete and save this form and the certificate of completion should they ever be audited. Failure to include both certificate and completed tool will result in a failed audit and loss of CPE credit. Feedback about the quality of the activity can be sent directly to CDR: QualityCPE@eatright.org

Occupational Therapy

American Occupational Therapy Association Approved Provider

Professional Development Resources is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course provider ID# 3159. This distance learning-independent course is offered at 0.2 CEUs, intermediate level, OT Service Delivery]. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

Psychology

American Psychological Association Approved Sponsor

Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145).

School Psychology

American Psychological Association Approved Sponsor

Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145).

Social Work

Association of Social Work Boards ACE Approved continuing education provider

Professional Development Resources, #1046, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 6/12/2022 - 6/12/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.

Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664 - Note: New York social workers will receive 2 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course). Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678).

Customer Testimonials

A.T. (Psychologist)

I really appreciate and learned about the different ways to use journaling as a tool with clients and assist their therapeutic process.

S.C. (Psychologist)

Enjoyed this course and will definitely will use the concepts and suggestions in my practice.

L.B. (Psychologist)

This course was extremely interesting. I learned a lot and will be putting some of these techniques to use in my practice starting immediately!

L.G. (Counselor)

I especially liked the 7 journaling techniques.

S.G. (Psychologist)

This is important content and I enjoyed reading the course material.

More Testimonials

G.R. (Social Worker)

I always enjoy taking courses from PDR. The material is so easy to understand.

C.B. (OT)

The course material was very interesting and helpful.

D.W. (RD)

I found this information helpful for dealing with self?efficacy for my weight reduction consults and bariatric surgery patients

K.H. (Social Worker)

I enjoyed the course. It got into so many aspects of journaling that would help me to use this tool much better with clients.

S.M. (Counselor)

This was one of the best and most helpful so far.  I loved it!

B.M. (Psychologist)

The course is good as it is. Although I have been using journaling for some time, I did learn some new information.

C.L. (Counselor)

Most interesting. I learned a lot that I think will be useful.

M.H. (Counselor)

It was a great source of information for offering clients more options than freewriting and letters (as I was doing with clients). Additionally if gave me language to better explain the benefits of journaling to clients who have been "nervous" to start writing it out.

D.L. (Social Worker)

Thanks it was helpful with some ideas I will try with my clients.

K.F. (Counselor)

After taking this course, I am looking forward to taking the next level of instruction.

A.L. (Counselor)

As always, I am very pleased with the content and presentation of your courses.  Thank you!

R.O. (Psychologist)

Thank you for this informative and interesting course.

V.A. (RD)

Very good information. Great course.

V.S. (Counselor)

I teach journaling and found the material a nice overview!

R.G. (Psychologist)

This was a useful course for my practice, as I often have clients journal while in therapy. 

B.G. (Counselor)

This course was very informative and easy to understand!

D.W. (Psychologist)

I do seminars on stress management for leaders, and the journaling process would be a great adjunct to that. Nice course!

K.P. (Psychologist)

Great course. It will help me with some current clients who are using journaling to go deeper.  Thank you.

G.A. (OT)

Very insightful and informative.

A.C. (OT)

Useful for clients and personal development.

M.S. (OT)

Good presentation of the benefits of journal writing, and clear guidelines for application.

R.B. (Social Work)

Therapists engaging clients in any aspect of journaling could benefit from this resource as a guide to gaining solid intermediate level knowledge before launching such an endeavor.

C.M. (OT)

A great course with practical suggestions and specific exercises to integrate into practice.

D.O. (Psychologist)

Great course with excellent information and practical tips! Loved the real life examples. 

D.L. (Psychologist)

Great topic. Would have loved to see some appendices with lots of examples of writing suggestions or assignments. The writing examples were the best part next to the conceptual stuff. 

P.A. (Counselor)

Will use these techniques in practice.

S.C. (Counselor)

I learned new tools and ideas that I can offer clients in order for them to go deeper in their work and learn even more about themselves.  Excellent format, easy to follow and implement!

L.B. (OT)

This is a really great article/continuing education course.

B.I. (Psychologist)

Enjoyed. Love to journal myself. Find it insightful...now I know why. Thank you. Would recommend this course for an alternate way to deal with issues that hold you back.

B.H. (Social Worker)

Eager to put these ideas to use in my practice!

M.K. (Counselor)

Formats for journaling that could be printed out and given to clients would  be helpful.

H.D. (OT)

This course provided a great deal of helpful information concerning implementing journaling in the therapeutic process effectively.

M.S. (Psychologist)

I really loved this course. I have used journal writing for a long time, but I loved the creative and practical ideas for specific ways to practice this therapeutic technique. Really great. Thanks!

E.L. (MHC)

I appreciated the stories and testimonials.

D.B. (OT)

I really enjoyed the course.  It was thorough but also easy to understand.

V.V. (OT)

Excellent course. Highly recommend it.

L.M. (SW)

Very well presented with subjective and objective research, examples, and testimonials.

P.J. (PY)

I was randomly searching the internet trying to find information on journaling that I could pass on to my PHP group/private practice clients since questions of journaling arise often.  I am very pleased that I found this course.  I found it to be very informative and am looking forward to using it with my clients.  The information was concise and exactly what I was looking for.  Thank you very much!

A.G. (PY) PhD

Great course; great information.  Only suggestion would be an outline that I could keep as a "cheat sheet" of the concepts to apply.  Thank you!

P.N. (PY)

Really appreciated the concise explanations of different types of journaling as they relate to therapy.

I wlll now feel more confident in suggesting (and discussing) journaling with clients.

M.T. (PY) PhD

Great information on effective use and methods of Journaling in therapy.

R.F. (PY)

I use journaling with my clients and for my personal therapy therefore it was nice to have some additional tools i can use.

J.G. (PY) PhD

Thank you for a wonderful learning experience.  I'm excited about using some of the techniques for my own personal growth!

K.R. (MHC)

 I am hoping to introduce some of my patients to journaling. I believe that this could help my patients stay focused between sessions.

J.B. (MHC)

I love this course! Very useful and helpful information for clients.  THANK YOU!

M.W. (MHC)

Great examples, especially the Behavior Log.

E.K. (MHC)

I enjoyed this course. I love adding new techniques to my counseling tool box. I also appreciated the case studies for further comprehension.

S.W. (MHC)

The presentation of this course was clear and well written.  The test was about important, significant concepts, not obscure issues.  Great test.

L.C. (OT)

Great class. I read the material some time ago and used what I learned in a journal workshop.

K.C. (MHC)

This was a valuable inservice for what I already do with children. Now I have many more effective tools and validation of the power of journalling.

D.Y. (ND)

I am a writer and counselor so I have always given journals to my clients in our first session. Now I have more ways to interest them in using the journals on a regular basis. I especially like the techniques given and the idea of writing prompts. Thanks for an excellent course.

S.P. (MHC)

Loved this book.  Can't wait to read the next journaling book. Thank you.

O.W. (PY) (MFT) (MHC)

Great course. I enjoy courses where techniques are described and explained. Thank you!

D.M. (PY)

Even though I have been practicing for about 40 years, I have not engaged the process of Journaling very much.  This course was an eye-opener as to the creative ways to utilze this technique. Thank you.

A.G. (PY)

Excellent course. Well-organized. This CE article gave me expanded ideas of how I might utilize Journaling with my patients or use journaling for personal reasons.

J.K. (PY)

This was a good introduction to journaling. Some helpful suggestions.

A.W. (PY)

This course presented a lot of helpful detail about one therapeutic tool of journaling. Thorough material. Thank you.

C.K. (PY)

I use journaling with some my clients now, but had never thought about them writing in dialogue form. This is a great idea, especially when they are struggling with an interpersonal issue.

D.R. (PY)

A great adjunct to therapy that is useful and beneficial. Thanks!

J.C. (PY)

Course organized and reinforced strategies for more effective use of journaling, therapeutically.

D.D. (PY)

THe ideas presented in this course on Journaling in Therapy were insightful and interesting. I will definitely use some of the ideas presented here in my professional work. Thank you!

K.K. (MHC)

I have had a couple of clients who have come in with two to four pages a week. It continues to amaze me things they shared on paper they struggled to discuss.

Y.M. (MHC)

So many great techniques and suggestions. I liked this course a lot. Thank you.

Exactly what I needed. I love that I could also download the PDF and keep for future reference.