Therapeutic Value of Writing Writing is both very healing and very therapeutic. Writing - or journaling - is an important part of processing difficult emotions, complicated situations, and complex layers of life’s experiences. Writing is a way to process trauma, and can be another way to tell without telling. It is a way to explore your experiences, a way to figure out what you think, a time to … [Read more...]
Lists of 100 Reasons
This is an excellent journaling exercise that can be adapted to any topic at any time. The entirety of the exercise is to find a difficult or complicated topic. Ask yourself a question about that topic and then write out 100 responses to that question. For lots of people, one hundred sounds like a huge number for a writing exercise, but once you start thinking about the issue in smaller increments, you might be … [Read more...]
Acronyms As a Way to Bridge Communication
Acronyms are some of my favorite writing exercises. I am repeatedly impressed with the amount and quality of helpful information that can surface through the use of acronyms. Acronyms are helpful when you get stuck. They are also particularly helpful when addressing a topic head-on or “with logic” is getting you nowhere. Sometimes, it is better to take a more gentle, roundabout, less direct approach. Let the … [Read more...]
Creating Internal System Scrapbooks
A fun and creative way to increase system communication and overall system familiarity is to make a scrapbook displaying pages that describe each of the people in your system. Getting to know your system is an absolute essential part to your healing and recovery, but doing system work doesn't have to be drudgery. A system scrapbook can be a wonderful treasure and a priceless keepsake for many years to come. It can … [Read more...]
Developing Internal Communication – Starting with the Basics
There are a variety of ways to develop basic, effective skills in internal communication with your dissociative system. Most of these skills are very similar, even the same, as the communication skills used with real people in the everyday world. There is no fancy trick to learning to talk to your inside people. Everyone can do this. Remember, it's like talking to other people. Have you … [Read more...]