1. therapeutic writing exercise
a chance to experiment with therapeutic writing
see the handout description for a typical James Pennebaker set of instructions
feel free to water these down for today – for example you could just write about a minor/moderate stress (current or past)
write really digging down into your feelings and thoughts about what happened
what you write will remain entirely private to you

2. mechanisms and effects
stops the cumulative stress & vulnerability produced by constant work of inhibition
recovering/working through deeply upsetting memories encourages reassessment
increases personal sense of resilience & one’s ability to tolerate intense emotions
reduces isolation and makes sharing with others easier
reduction in intrusive memories and thoughts
improved psychological well being
improvements in immune function & physical health
reduced dependence on health professionals and other helping agencies

3. mechanisms and effects
stops cumulative stress produced by constant work of inhibition:
Cole, S. W., M. E. Kemeny, et al. (1996). "Elevated physical health risk among gay men who conceal their homosexual identity." Health Psychology 15:
Larson, D. G. and R. L. Chastain (1990). "Self concealment: conceptualization, measurement, and health implications." Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 9(4):
Finkenauer, C. and Rimé, B. (1998). "Keeping emotional memories secret : health and subjective wellbeing when emotions are not shared." J Health Psychology 3(1):
Hunt, M. G. (1998). "The only way out is through: emotional processing and recovery after a depressing life event." Behaviour Research and Therapy 36(4):

4. mechanisms and effects
working through upsetting memories promotes reassessment:
making “emotional” memories more “autobiographical” & promot-ing reassessment are considered key cognitive therapy interventions
Reynolds, M. & C. Brewin (1999). "Intrusive memories in depression and posttraumatic stress disorder." Behav Res Ther 37(3):
Smyth, J., N. True, et al. (2001). "Effects of writing about traumatic experiences: the necessity for narrative structuring." Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 20(2):
Brewin, C. R. (2001). "A cognitive neuroscience account of posttraumatic stress disorder and its treatment." Behav Res Ther 39(4):

5. mechanisms and effects
increases personal sense of resilience & one’s ability to tolerate intense emotions:
Hunt, M. G. (1998). "The only way out is through: emotional processing and recovery after a depressing life event." Behaviour Research and Therapy 36(4):
reduces isolation and makes sharing with others easier:
Pennebaker, J., J. M. Smyth, et al. (1999). "Disclosure and health: an interview with James W Pennebaker; plus comments by various other authors." Advances in Mind-Body Medicine 15(3):

6. information from the web
go to the “good knowledge” page of , then open “past lectures and training seminars” in the “lectures, leaflets and what’s new” section; this talk, the writing handout, research links and other related talks can all be found in “emotional expression & therapeutic writing seminars”; look too in psy.utexas.edu/HomePage/Faculty/ Pennebaker/Home2000/JWPhome.htm