Writing For Emotional Balance
A Guided Journal to Help You Manage Overwhelming Emotions. By Beth Jacobs, Ph.D

The need to write things down, to make a record of our thoughts and feelings, is a strong one. In the U.S. alone 12 million blank journals are bought each year. The act of processing our feelings through journal writing can help us understand and deal with emotions that would otherwise be overwhelming.

Writing For Emotional Balance guides readers through exercises designed to help them develop the skills necessary to manage these overwhelming emotions, which can include mood swings, anger, depression, anxiety, or mania. Readers learn to identify the emotions, use expressive writing to explore the roots of them, track their emotional states, and in general express their feelings in appropriate and healthy ways.

This is not a journal of endless blank pages; it provides eight chapters of step by step guidelines for the writer. Each one assists in providing a blueprint of questions and checklists which help to stimulate thought and organize a direction of introspection. The eight chapters and thirty three exercises provided easily guide the reader through the processes.

The author claims that by following the guidelines, one may “learn and practice the seven essential skills of emotion management.” They include: Distance yourself from your emotions, define what your emotions mean for you, release blocked and conflicted feelings, regain focus while experiencing overwhelming emotions, use structure and organization to clarify feelings, regroup after an emotional set back. Maintain your new skills and incorporate them into your life.”

“Journaling can help balance and regulate your emotions. This book, a guided journal, combines the benefits of journaling practice with sound and practical advice. It gives you information, ideas, and active exercises that can help you feel more comfortable and directed in your life”, say the publishers.

Beth Jacobs, PhD is a clinical psychologist who has worked in private practice for 20 years, and is also on the faculty of the Northwestern University Medical center. Dr. Jacobs has a special interest in journal-assisted therapy, and has designed and run workshops for the public on journal writing skills. She uses journal-assisted therapy extensively in her own practice

Published by:
New Harbinger Publications
www.newharbinger.com

Details:

Paperback: 129 pages
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications (January 2, 2005)
ISBN: 1572243821
Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches

Find this book at Amazon.

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