Table Of ContentWrite
Yourself
Writing for Therapy or Personal Development Series
Edited by Gillie Bolton
Writing for Therapy or Personal Development, a foundation library to a
rapidly developing field, covers the theory and practice of key areas.
Clearly exemplified, engaging and accessible, the series is appropriate for
therapeutic, healthcare, or creative writing practitioners and facilitators,
and for individual writers or courses.
other books in the series
Writing Routes
A Resource Handbook of Therapeutic Writing
Edited by Gillie Bolton, Victoria Field and Kate Thompson
ISBN 978 1 84905 107 1
Poetry and Story Therapy
The Healing Power of Creative Expression
Geri Giebel Chavis
ISBN 978 1 84905 832 2
Therapeutic Journal Writing
An Introduction for Professionals
Kate Thompson
ISBN 978 1 84310 690 6
Writing Works
A Resource Handbook for Therapeutic Writing Workshops and Activities
Edited by Gillie Bolton, Victoria Field and Kate Thompson
ISBN 978 1 84310 468 1
by the same author
Dying, Bereavement and Healing Arts
Edited by Gille Bolton
Foreword by Baroness Professor Ilora Finlay of Llandaff
ISBN 978 1 84310 516 9
The Therapeutic Potential of Creative Writing
Writing Myself
Gillie Bolton
Foreword by Sir Kenneth Calman
ISBN 978 1 85302 599 0
Write
Yourself
Creative Writing and
Personal Development
Gillie Bolton
foreword by Nicholas f. Mazza
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
First published in 2011
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
116 Pentonville Road
London N1 9JB, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright © Gillie Bolton 2011
Foreword copyright © Nicholas F. Mazza 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material
form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and
whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication)
without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the
provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a
licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby
Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission
to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work
may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84905 110 1
ISBN pdf eBook 978 0 85700 3 089
Contents
Foreword by Nicholas F. Mazza 7
Acknowledgements 9
Preface 11
Part One: Creative Personal Writing – What,
Why, How, Who, When, Where
1. Becoming Our Own Shaman: Introduction to Therapeutic
Creative Writing 17
2. ‘A Story of Gaining Understanding and Insight’: How
to Begin 31
3. ‘I Got in Touch with Myself’: Values, Principles, Practice 50
Part Two: Writing with Specific Groups
4. ‘Secrets Kept Safe and Sound’: Children Writing 67
5. ‘Writing is a Way of Saying Things I Can’t Say’: Writing with
the Very Sick 86
6. ‘Keep Taking the Words’: Writing to Help with Anxiety,
Depression and Mental Health 99
7. ‘Follow the Wings of the Imagination’: Writing and
Therapy or Counselling 115
8. ‘Writing Gives Us Wings so We Can Fly’: Writing in
Substance and Alcohol Abuse Treatment 133
9. ‘Ideas Hunt Me, Catch Me, Make Me Write’: Writing for
Victims of Torture, Refugees and Asylum Seekers 152
10. ‘A Craft to Take You Through Storms, and Keep You Still’:
Writing in Prison 169
11. Understanding Misunderstanding: Reflective Writing for
Professional Development 186
Part Three: How to Run Groups;
Conclusion
12. Mystery and Mastery: Running Therapeutic Creative
Writing Groups 211
13. ‘It Helped Me Get Involved with Myself’: Running
Residential Writing Groups 232
14. ‘Tread Softly Because You Tread on My Dreams’ (Yeats 1974):
Conclusion. A Conversation between Juhani Ihanus and
Gillie Bolton 252
Appendix: Writing Exercises by Theme 270
References 275
Subject Index 283
Author Index 286
Foreword
Sometimes we write to survive, perhaps to gain some sense of control
during turbulent times. Sometimes we write to remember, perhaps to
cope with life transitions that always involve loss. Sometimes we write
for discovery, perhaps inspired by person or place and seeking to grow.
Sometimes we just write. In this remarkable book, through selected
research, practitioner/scholar contributions, vignettes and compelling
exercises, the reader has the opportunity to prevail in affirming what
matters most, the human connection to person, place and spirit.
The place of writing in therapeutic, educational and personal growth
capacities has received significant attention in the expressive arts therapies,
most notably poetry therapy, which focuses on language, symbol and
story. Creative and f ocused writing has also received attention as a
therapeutic agent in a number of clinical theories, particularly narrative,
humanistic and cognitive-behavioural approaches to practice. Beyond
professional capacities, survivors of community tragedies have often
turned to writing and art as an emotional release, a way of connecting
with each other, and honouring the memory of deceased loved ones.
Gillie Bolton, drawing upon her more than 25 years of experience
in developing reflective and therapeutic writing, has demonstrated a
keen understanding of the process and power of creative and expressive
writing to effect growth and healing. Other scholars in the allied helping
and educational professions have provided qualitative and quantitative
evidence on the health aspects (as well as the dangers) of expressive
writing. Building on selected sources of support in the literature,
7
8 Write Yourself
Bolton’s primary focus is on the applied (practical) aspects of writing for
personal development. Identifying and discussing multiple writing forms
(e.g. poetry, fiction, blogs, autobiography), this book covers a wide range
of client concerns, settings and practice modalities (individual, group,
community). The practical elements and theoretical/philosophical
discussion provided in this book serve to advance the reader’s continued
learning and growth. For those involved in research, the precise exercises
and practice descriptions can be subjected to disciplined investigation.
For the therapist and educator, the many methods and guidelines add
to his or her professional repertoire and serve as a reminder of the
importance of critical and creative thinking. For the writer/poet, all of
the above and more.
This book by Gillie Bolton is a celebration and call to the place of
writing (both personally and professionally) in our life journey. Gratefully
Unfinished is the common element in creative writing, therapy, education
and community development. A special thanks to Gillie Bolton for
providing another compelling reminder to keep on responding to and
creating literature. We keep on facing life changes. We keep on learning.
It’s a poetic approach to life. We keep on... Don’t try to absorb this book
at one time. Go back and keep on…
Nicholas F. Mazza
Dean and Patricia V. Vance Professor of Social Work
College of Social Work, The Florida State University
