The Therapeutic Potential of Creative Writing: Writing Myself

1. Introduction. 2. Therapeutic writing: How and why: The healing pen 3. Keeping a journal: 'The diamonds of the dustheap'. 4. Writing openers: Unbuttoning, opening the box. 5. Images: How to find, create and use them - Echoes. 6. Dreams which put us in touch with ourselves: 'The royal road'. 7. The power of poetry, fiction, autobiography: 'Something hatches'. 8. Waiting to help you take control of your own life: This is my decision! 9. Writing and groups: Laugh and cry with each other. 10. Writing out trauma: A bobble hat, a pair of jeans, and Grandad. 11. Writing at the doctor's, the hospital, the hospice: Writing on prescription. 12. Writing in prison, the old people's home: 'Reach for the stars'. 13. Approaches to therapeutic writing: 'But who are you?' 14. Conclusions: 'Thought made flesh'. Appendix: Useful contact addresses. Bibliography. Index.