Therapeutic benefits of writing: a case study with abused women

Evidence in favor of the use of writing for therapeutic purposes has been primarily anecdotal and impressionistic. Little empirical support was found for the potentialities of writing until benefits were revealed through research with college undergraduates. As a beginning effort, the present study examined the potential benefits and limitations of writing with a sample of women with clinically significant emotional problems. Analyses of three, 30-minute writings for 9 female subjects in treatment for issues related to domestic violence and results of a final interview provided evidence in favor of greater use of writing in clinical practice. Writing impacted three change agents positively (affective experiencing, cognitive mastery, and behavioral regulation), along with promotion of changes in self-concept and movement in the process of healing from trauma. The importance of the narrative perspective is emphasized. Limitations of the study and the need for future research are discussed.