Using Narrative Writing to Enhance Healing


Book Description

The fields of writing as healing and health coaching have expanded to aid in the physical and emotional healing of patients. Using writing as a healing method allows patients to create new perspectives of their healing processes and professionals to propose new methods of healing that promote and maintain a positive outlook. Using Narrative Writing to Enhance Healing is an essential scholarly publication that approaches healing through the fields of education and medicine. Featuring a wide range of topics such as collaborative narratives, patient education, and health coaching, this book is ideal for writing instructors, physical therapists, teachers, therapists, psychologists, mental health professionals, medical professionals, counselors, religious leaders, mentors, administrators, academicians, and researchers.




Using Narrative Writing to Enhance Healing During and After Global Health Crises


Book Description

Millions of people experience stress in their lives, and this is even more prevalent in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether this stress stems from a job loss or a fear of sickness from working with the public, stress has reigned throughout the pandemic. However, stress is more complicated than being simply a “bad feeling.” Stress can impact both mental and physical wellbeing. Using Narrative Writing to Enhance Healing During and After Global Health Crises is a critical reference that discusses therapeutic writing and offers it as a simple solution for those who are at the highest risk of poor health. This book covers multiple writing narratives on diverse topics and how they aid with stress after the COVID-19 pandemic. Including topics such as anxiety, health coaching, and leadership, this book is essential for teachers, community leadership, physical and emotional therapists, healthcare workers, teachers, faculty of both K-12 and higher education, members of church communities, students, academicians, and any researchers interested in using writing as a healing process.




The Healing Power of Storytelling


Book Description

Reframe your story—and reclaim your life—through writing and storytelling in this “invaluable guide for patients, families, medical professionals, and all of us ordinary mortals grappling with life” (Danielle Ofri, MD, PHD, author of What Doctors Feel). A Harvard-trained doctor draws on the tenants of narrative therapy and her own multiple sclerosis diagnosis to offer chronic illness patients a way through anxiety, confusion, and trauma. When Harvard-trained physician Dr. Annie Brewster was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001, she realized firsthand that the medical system to which she’d devoted her entire career was failing patients. The experience was dehumanizing. Her doctors weren’t listening. And the confusion, fear, and shame she felt around her diagnosis was preventing her from truly healing, claiming her story, and living her fullest, richest life. Here, Dr. Brewster and journalist Rachel Zimmerman each share their own personal stories, acting as expert guides as you move forward on your healing journey. With exercises, reflections, writing prompts, and stories from other real patients, Dr. Brewster and Zimmerman show how you can: • Process the difficult emotions that come with life-changing diagnosis • Move beyond being the hero of your own story to become the author of your own story • Craft your narrative and share it in whatever medium speaks to you • Integrate a traumatic health event into a new and evolving identity • Use applied storytelling techniques to strengthen connections with loved ones and care providers • Cultivate resilience to move forward amid uncertainty and fear The fact is, doctors can give you a life-changing diagnosis, but they’re not equipped to help you deal with the inner fallout: the confusion, anxiety, trauma, and dread that comes after “I have some bad news.” Dr. Brewster shows how writing your own unique healing story can help you process what comes next—to come to terms, create new ways to thrive, and even reclaim your personal power amid fear, change, and uncertainty.




The Healing Power of Story


Book Description

Improve your overall wellbeing through the healing power of writing and storytelling with these inspiring true stories to help you see your illness—and yourself—in new and positive ways. Navigating illness can be both frightening and isolating. When a serious illness strikes you or a loved one, your whole world is turned upside down, leaving you feeling disoriented, angry, or depressed. But there is a way to take charge of your life and achieve better health and wellbeing—and that is through the art of storytelling. Social science and emerging neurobiological research reveal that storytelling helps us heal, cope, and communicate, lifting our mood and regaining control of our life’s narrative. With practical, science-backed guidance and compelling, relatable human stories, The Healing Power of Story offers you an opportunity to improve your health and also deepen human connections that serve as the foundation of healing through engaging with and telling your story. At a time when the country is gripped by an epidemic of loneliness, bringing individuals, families, and communities together to share stories can help you not only rebuild your shattered identity but also bring welcome joy to others.




How Stories Heal


Book Description

How Stories Heal illustrates the value of personal narrative writing. Referring to this type of writing as the «turn to the subjective I» or to «me-search research», this is a book about Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) writing, actually written in an SPN style. This book will satisfy a huge need in higher education and scholarship for students who are writing theses and doctoral dissertations.




Healing Through Writing


Book Description

"In my more than 30 years of clinical practice, I have worked directly with child and adult patients suffering from a wide range of mental and emotional challenges. Healing through Writing embodies the basic principles of empowering clients to help themselves through self-exploration and writing as a form of creative expression."--George Mallory, M.D. Associate Clinical Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry, UCLA, Pasadena, CA Author Anthony D. Parnell, M.S.W. shows you how daily journaling can transform inner turmoil into peaceful, balanced existence. Parnell developed his techniques through ten years of experience as a mental health therapist and social worker, as well as through personal knowledge in coping with the daily challenges of life. Healing through Writing is designed for those interested in: Finding ways to more effectively manage stress Learning about the spiritual and emotional benefits of keeping a daily journal Improving your ability to express your thoughts and emotions through writing Healing through Writing is an excellent tool for mental health professionals, recovering substance abusers, those suffering from mental illness, those grieving the loss of a loved one, or those coping with major life transitions.




Memoir as Medicine


Book Description

A wonderfully fresh and frank guide to why and how to write personal stories that will heal, liberate, inspire — and entertain — both writer and reader Writing has been medicine for Nancy Slonim Aronie. At nine months old, her son Dan was diagnosed with diabetes. Then, at twenty-two, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. During the years she and her husband took care of Dan, and when he died at age thirty-eight, Aronie could not find the book she needed. So she wrote her memoir. In teaching memoir writing, Aronie has found that everyone has a story to tell and that telling it is important. Sharing “this is who I am, these are the things that shaped me, this is where I am now” allows a kind of magic and healing to happen. Over decades of writing and teaching, Aronie has created a set of prompts, directions, and examples that she shares in Memoir as Medicine. She shows readers how to write through where they have been and into deep understanding, profound healing, and even unexpected joy.




Writing as a Way of Healing


Book Description

In this inspiring book, based on her twenty years of research, highly acclaimed author and teacher Louise DeSalvo reveals the healing power of writing. DeSalvo shows how anyone can use writing as a way to heal the emotional and physical wounds that are an inevitable part of life. Contrary to what most self-help books claim, just writing won't help you; in fact, there's abundant evidence that the wrong kind of writing can be damaging. DeSalvo's program is based on the best available and most recent scientific studies about the efficacy of using writing as a restorative tool. With insight and wit, she illuminates how writers, from Virginia Woolf to Henry Miller to Audre Lorde to Isabel Allende, have been transformed by the writing process. Writing as a Way of Healing includes valuable advice and practical techniques to guide and inspire both experienced and beginning writers.




The Healing Power of Stories


Book Description

In this masterful interweaving of narrative psychology, literature, religion, ethics, and philosophy, Dr. Daniel Taylor invites readers to tell their stories, to take responsibility for their lives, and to made whole, because well-being is not a matter of repairing the psyche, but of reshaping a person's character.




Writing for the Soul


Book Description

Dive into the profound exploration of self-expression and personal growth with "Writing for the Soul: How to Use Writing to Heal, Grow, and Connect." In this enlightening guide, words cease to be mere symbols on paper; they become a conduit for healing, a compass for self-discovery, and a bridge that spans the vast terrain of human connection. Embark on a transformative odyssey through the pages of this book, where the author skillfully navigates the delicate landscape of the human spirit. Drawing from the rich tapestry of historical examples, the narrative unfolds, revealing the transformative potential inherent in the act of writing. Each chapter unveils a new facet of this journey—whether it's understanding the therapeutic benefits of expressive writing, unleashing creativity through words, or crafting a personal narrative that resonates with authenticity. Explore the art of introspective journaling and delve into exercises that prompt self-reflection and insight. Navigate life's challenges using writing as a coping mechanism through testimonials and case studies that illuminate the power of words during difficult times. Develop your personal storytelling style and understand the profound impact of narrative on personal growth. Venture into the emotional depth of poetry, guided by writing exercises that tap into the poetic expression for healing. Uncover the neuroscience of writing and its impact on the brain, alongside techniques for mindfulness to enhance mental well-being. Engage in writing exercises designed to build emotional intelligence, integrating emotional awareness into daily life through the written word. Examine the evolution of identity through writing, using it as a tool for self-discovery and self-acceptance. Create meaningful writing rituals for positive change and explore the communal aspect of writing as a form of connection through storytelling. Harness writing for advocacy and social change, exploring case studies of writers who have made a difference through their words. Capture personal stories for future generations through legacy and memoir writing, learning techniques for preserving memories and lessons. Embrace vulnerability as a catalyst for personal growth through writing exercises, and witness stories of resilience and triumph over adversity. Explore the synergy between writing and other creative outlets, engaging in collaborative projects that integrate writing with visual arts. Move beyond the written word by expanding the definition of writing to include various mediums, incorporating multimedia elements into personal expression. Discover the joy of finding and fostering writing communities, recognizing the importance of feedback and collaboration in the writing process. This guide is not just a manual; it's a companion on your writing journey—a source of inspiration, guidance, and encouragement for a lifelong writing practice. "Writing for the Soul" is more than a book; it's an invitation to unlock the potential within every word, to embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and connection through the transformative power of writing.