Stage 2 Of The Healing Pen! The Evolution And Growth Through Journal Writing!
Thank you for joining me as I continue to delineate the four stages of the Healing Pen process, which is a therapeutic writing process I have created for my patients to navigate through the challenges of past pain and trauma that are impacting their current lives. The second stage of journal writing in the Healing Pen process can take place both in session and outside of the therapy meetings. As a therapist, it is my hope that the patient will become more self-motivated after each session to reflect in a written format as practiced in therapy. After learning to write uncensored, in the first stage of the Healing Pen, the patient will become less judgmental of his/her own thoughts, feelings, and emotions when seeking to articulate on paper. The second stage of journal writing evolves from intense emotion and spiritual pain into a process of personal reflection for emotional growth and healing.
It is the reflection period of the second stage of the Healing Pen that begins to comfort the patient. The tough, challenging lessons, pain, and trauma have a value that could not be readily embraced in the first stage of the Healing Pen. As a therapist, I will guide the patient through the second stage of the Healing Pen process by engaging the patient with various questions that will invite necessary reflection. These questions may include: How does your pain trauma impact you today? How can you alleviate the intensity of any residual pain? Who are you when you are in pain? Who are you when you are not enmeshed in your pain? What did you learn from your survivorship of past trauma? What did you learn about yourself through this experience? What are your enduring and best qualities? What can you share that can teach someone about who you truly are? What have you learned about your emotional growth? Are you resilient enough to continue to rise? Tell me ways that you can continue to grow, evolve, and elevate for your greatest good.
The second stage of the Healing Pen journal process is intended to guide positive thought. Naturally, throughout the second stage, words like “forgiveness” and “acceptance” will emerge. Often the patient will need to begin to reflect upon forgiveness of self, others, God, the Universe. As your therapeutic guide, I will assist the patient in understanding what “forgiveness” is and what “forgiveness” is not. Additionally, the patient will seek to ground oneself in acceptance. Acceptance of what has occurred and what cannot change is vital to the healing stage. Although acceptance of defeat from past circumstances is not an option when it comes to evolution, spiritual and emotional growth. As a therapist, I will demonstrate the importance of a healthy acceptance in session.
The second stage of the Healing Pen will be an opportune time to integrate mindfulness, restorative yoga, and meditation practices. Restorative yoga and assist the mind with moving emotional pain through and out of the body. As emotional pain often manifests into physical pain, moving the body to ease this pain can work collaboratively with the Healing Pen process. Mindfulness techniques and meditation exercises will enhance the patient’s self-awareness and ameliorate the process of self-reflection in the journal writing process. As a therapist, I am familiar with multiple techniques including the use of breath awareness with the patient to create an environment of calm, peace, and emotional safety in which to proceed through the challenging reflection stage of the Healing Pen. Each stage will naturally progress through a seven-week period. After stage 2, patients will be eager to proceed to the 3rd stage of the Healing Pen process….Healing! Stay tuned!
