writing offers a way to hold our feelings, to nurture ourselves, and to transform our pain.
—Louise DeSalvo
writing can heal us.
while research on the physical and mental benefits of personal writing is only decades old, humans have felt the urge to write their sorrows and joys down from time immemorial.
the blank page can be a place of refuge when storms hit, but also a tool to cultivate awareness, promote wellbeing and create lasting change.
and it works.
expressive writing
is personal and emotional writing which serves to express what is on your mind
has no regard to form or other writing conventions, like spelling, punctuation, and verb agreement
focuses on how you feel about what happened rather than the events or memories.
the Benefits of expressive writing
physical health
Studies have found that expressive writing can lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, and improve immune function. Expressive writing has been also linked to improved cognitive functioning, including better memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities.
mental health
Expressive writing has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, leading to a more positive emotional state. Writing about stressful events can help process and release emotions, reducing feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. It also helps individuals develop healthier emotional coping mechanisms, leading to improved emotional resilience.
course correction
The writing process fosters reflection, helping individuals identify patterns, themes, and lessons learned from their experiences, leading to increased self-awareness and personal growth.
meaning-making
By writing about life’s experiences, individuals create a narrative that gives shape and coherence to their emotions and thoughts, allowing them to make sense of their lives and find meaning.
mind-body connection
Expressive writing invites a deeper understanding of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations, promoting greater self-awareness and emotional regulation.
“Writing about stressful situations is one of the easiest ways for people to take control of their problems and release the negative effects of stress from their bodies and their lives.”
—James Pennebaker
in 2023 i founded a journal of one’s own, a virtual expressive writing workshop series.
Through my workshops, I support individuals in developing and nurturing a writing practice to map their inner landscape and uncover a path to live a more fulfilling and intentional life.
I encourage the use of writing as a healing tool in order to advance our individual and collective journey towards liberation.
My workshops weave together the feminist and ecological literary traditions alongside trauma-informed Somatics and Buddhist spirituality.
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why is the workshop called “A journal of one’s own”?
In 1929, the British writer Virginia Woolf published "A Room of One's Own," one of the most highly influential literary treatises of the twentieth century, and a seminal text of feminist thought.
The central argument of the book-length essay is that a woman must have access to personal space and financial independence in order to pursue creative expression.
While the practice of Expressive Writing greatly differs from that of Creative Writing, women’s ability to carve out time and space to engage with introspective work still encounters impediments similar to those Virginia Woolf denounced almost a century ago.
upcoming workshops
Finding Light in the Darkness
december 1
6pm-8pm CEST
on Zoom
A virtual workshop to explore the luminous capacities of darkness through the transformative power of Expressive Writing.
As the world further descends into darkness—both seasonal and metaphorical, writing can help us reveal the spacious and emergent possibilities of the unknown and restore inner strength and wholeness.
We are conditioned to seek light at all costs, but there may be benefits in contemplating and interrogating the darkness in our own life. What teachings and guidance could darkness offer us? What resources could be hiding in the shadows?
The workshop invites participants to embark on a writing exploration towards greater listening, understanding and healing.
Participants will learn to harness the therapeutic tools of Expressive Writing in a relaxed and safe environment where you will write to understand difficult emotions, allow processing and meaning-making of significant events, and forge a deeper connection to your own vital force.
Our writing journey will be supported by trauma-informed somatic and contemplative practices which allow us to deepen the process, while offering a more mindful and embodied approach to writing.
with the italian counterpart of A Journal of One’s own, a project named un diario tutto per sé, i offer weekly workshops to sick folks in collaboration with cancer nonprofit organisations.
My workshops integrate traditional expressive writing tools with theories and practices stemming from my research on autobiographical illness narratives.
In my own journey as a sick woman, I leaned on personal writing to navigate the turmoil caused by illness. Having had the good fortune to find support and sustenance in my long-established writing practice, I intend to share these accessible, yet powerful, tools with others who may greatly benefit from them.
“While trauma keeps us dumbfounded, the path out of it is paved with words, carefully assembled, piece by piece, until the whole story can be revealed.”
—Bessel van der Kolk, author of “The Body Keeps the Score”
start your writing journey.
I facilitate workshops in English and Italian. If you are looking to host a workshop, please reach out.
Get in touch via the form or send an email to:
hi@shirinakhondi.com