Writers cherish their journals.

As a child, my personal diaries became a safe haven to channel feelings. I still have all of my journals! Naturally, my notebooks became the place where I crafted my poetry. As a school counselor, I often used journal writing and poetry in my practice. It was a safe way, for those who struggled to push the words out of their throats, to communicate their feelings. For many years I advised a poetry club. It became not only an extracurricular but a place for students to be heard with acceptance. Years later, Zoe Jade Austin, from the Acoustic Poets Network™, and I presented a poetry journal writing workshop for the Long Island Counselors’ Annual Conference. I also facilitated several introspective writing workshops at the Vault, an Artist Community in Queens, NY.  I am now poised, with my new certification, to instruct the Journal to the Self® workshop in its entirety as a 12-hour course! This program is for anyone who wants to learn how to keep a journal for personal growth, creative expression, and life enrichment. It was created in 1985 by Kathleen Adams LPC, PTR, Director of the Center for Journal Therapy, Inc., and its curriculum is based firmly in the Progroff and Pennebaker methods of journaling. Although this falls into a self-help format, it is lighthearted, fun, and provides great room for creativity.  I look forward to sharing and facilitating these healing journal writing workshops. Keep an eye out for my preview programs so you can join, with me, on a journaling adventure.