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Inside The Cover
Book Reviews
As a clinical
psychologist who has worked with patients of all sorts of health issues, I wish
I had had a book like this one to recommend for my clients. The author, Lori
Batchellor, a physical therapist and writer, has combined both of her
professions into a wonderful, easy-to-read book with an accompanying relaxation
tape. Batchellor begins
the book by describing research that supports the fact that journal writing (as
compared to writing about any topic) improves health and emotional well-being.
By writing down the events and feelings associated with those events, subjects
in these studies gained insight into their behavior. However,
Batchellor correctly notes that insight alone does not improve health. Sigmund
Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, believed that by talking about whatever
comes into the patient’s mind, the patient gains insight, and thus they are
“cured.” Of course, today most psychoanalysts do not practice Freudian
psychology exactly, but many of his ideas were excellent enough to become merged
into the practice of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis today. (For the record,
this information is not covered by Batchellor, but I’m using it to back up
what Batchellor, who is not a psychologist, has found in her own research). Other studies have
shown that writing down thoughts and behaviors, such as in cognitive-behavioral
therapy, can improve well-being in terms of symptoms, such as depression and
anxiety. (Again, my words, but related to Batchellor’s comments). Batchellor
suggests that the reader use insights gained from writing to take what she calls
“Action Steps.” This is very much like what cognitive-behavioral therapists
suggest as well. With all of the clinical studies confirming the validity of
writing as healing, Batchellor provides information for the skeptic, or for
people who have never been in therapy, or who are not writers. Batchellor also
suggests that the reader/journal-writer start using art materials to supplement
their healing journey. On my own spiritual journey I, too, encountered a similar
suggestion, and balked at first, fearing my perceived lack of artistic ability
to be relevant. As it turned out, once I let go and simply went with what I was
told to do, I grew to really love the pastels as tools for healing, and today I
am a professional artist thanks to that one class with my pastor. So if you have
any concerns about using art materials for healing, let go of needing to be a
great artist, and simply remember it is just another mode of expressing
feelings. Again, Batchellor refers to studies showing that people who
internalize their emotions are not as healthy as those who express them.
Naturally, some people with anger need to be taught how to express anger
appropriately, and journaling and art, along with communication skills, are
certainly appropriate. In my own
practice, I found many people liked to have books recommended to them, including
workbooks on self-esteem, anger, sexual abuse, et cetera. I also frequently
recommended journaling, and patients would come in and read part of what they
had written, or talk about what issues came up for them. Furthermore, I often
taught my patients meditation and relaxation, and provided them with tapes that
I had made or bought. Patients who are compliant and motivated, and who like to
read and/or write, found my recommendations helpful. Patricia Ferguson is a freelance writer/editor/publisher, as well as a licensed clinical psychologist. She is a co-founder and editor-in-chief of Apolloslyre, an online magazine for and about writers of all genres. She is an editorial reviewer for The Writer's Room, and a book reviewer for several venues, including, among others, Absolute Write and Metapsychology Online. She is currently working on a book of memoirs. She and her husband and son live in northern California. |
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Journey
to Health: Writing Your Way to Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Well-being
