Focused expressive writing as self‐help for stress and trauma
Abstract
In the therapy process, the process of disclosing about stressful or traumatic events is often considered essential. One such manner is through focused expressive writing (FEW) about stressful or traumatic experiences. FEW is related to improvements in health and well-being, across a wide array of outcomes and participant characteristics. As FEW requires limited involvement of other individuals, is relatively low cost, and portable, it has tremendous potential as self-help. In particular, FEW may be an effective means to reach populations unwilling or unable to engage in psychotherapy. A case illustration of FEW is presented. Evidence and future directions for FEW as self-help are reviewed.
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The majority of psychological paradigms require at least some sort of identifying, labelling and disclosing emotional life experiences.
“As the majority of psychological paradigms require at least some sort of identifying, labelling and disclosing emotional life experiences (Smyth and Helm, 2003; Smyth et al., 2008), this might be a key requirement of software agents delivering an psychological intervention.”
Cites
Written emotional expression: Effect sizes, outcome types, and moderating variables
Smyth, J. M. (1998) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.66.1.174 · Cited by 1,294 · see citing works
Self-citationStanton, A. L., Danoff-Burg, S., Sworowski, L. A., Collins, C. A., Branstetter, A. D., Rodriguez-Hanley, A., Kirk, S. B., & Austenfeld, J. L. (2002) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2002.08.521 · Cited by 519 · see citing works
Greenberg, M. A., & Stone, A. A. (1992) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.63.1.75 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
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Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing
Baikie, K. A., & Wilhelm, K. (2005) · Advances in Psychiatric Treatment · doi:10.1192/apt.11.5.338 · Cited by 517 · see citing works
Empirical study on the healing nature of mandalas.
Henderson, P., Rosen, D., & Mascaro, N. (2007) · Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts · doi:10.1037/1931-3896.1.3.148 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Hsu, M. C., Schubiner, H., Lumley, M. A., Stracks, J. S., Clauw, D. J., & Williams, D. A. (2010) · Journal of General Internal Medicine · doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1418-6 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Zachariae, R., & O'Toole, M. S. (2015) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.3802 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Bachem, R., & Maercker, A. (2016) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2016.1191083 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Expressive Writing in the Clinical Context
Smyth, J. M., Nazarian, D., & Arigo, D. (2007) · Emotion Regulation · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-29986-0_14 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Self-citationBendig, E., Erb, B., Meißner, E., Bauereiß, N., & Baumeister, H. (2021) · Internet Interventions · doi:10.1016/j.invent.2021.100377 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“As the majority of psychological paradigms require at least some sort of identifying, labelling and disclosing emotional life experiences (Smyth and Helm, 2003; Smyth et al., 2008), this might be a key requirement of software agents delivering an psychological intervention.”
Background
- Authors
- Smyth, J., & Helm, R.
- Affiliations
- Syracuse University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Smyth, Joshua
- ORCID
- Smyth, Joshua
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-01-27
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 227-235
- ISSN
- 0021-9762 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-4679
- OpenAlex
- W2012731538
- Cited by
- 96
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 3.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- self-help, stress, trauma, disclosure, psychological well-being, case examples
- MeSH terms
- Adjustment Disorders, Adult, Female, Humans, Psychotherapy, Self Care, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological, Writing
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