Reflective Writing in Counselling & Psychotherapy

Jeannie Wright, Gillie Bolton

Sage Publications
2012

Reflective Writing in Counselling & Psychotherapy

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Have you been asked to keep a personal development portfolio or reflective journal? Are you struggling to know where to start, how to write or what to include? If the answer is ‘yes’, this book will provide you with a straightforward route in, telling you all you need to know about writing reflectively for your own personal and professional development.

Offering staged exercises, case-studies, examples and ideas for self-directed learning, this book will lead the reader along an exciting journey of written self-awareness, covering:

  • the background – what exactly is reflective writing and why is it important
  • the decisions – when and how to start
  • the practicalities – the essentials of writing reflectively
  • the stumbling blocks – dealing with obstacles and difficulties
  • the long haul – maintaining reflective enquiry as a lifelong habit

This book is an essential how-to guide appropriate for all undergraduate and postgraduate trainees, whether they are approaching the topic from a psychodynamic, person-centred or CBT perspective. It will give trainees all the tools they need to become mature reflective practitioners.  Dr Jeannie Wright is Director of Counselling and Psychotherapy Programmes at Warwick University.
Professor Jeannie Wright, University of Malta, Department of Counselling

‘This book offers a gentle and creative invitation to the use of reflective writing in counselling and psychotherapy. In supplying a clear account of different approaches to reflective writing, and a large number of stimulating writing tasks, this book makes a timely, welcome and necessary contribution to this area of therapeutic training and practice.’
John McLeod, Professor of Counselling, University of Abertay Dundee

‘In this book Wright and Bolton make a compelling case for the benefits and role of reflective writing in the therapist’s tool kit of self-development and awareness. Written in an engaging and practical style, and underpinned by a clear theoretical framework, this book makes a significant contribution to the existing literature. I think it is highly likely to succeed in encouraging readers to give serious consideration to the benefits of reflective writing and journal keeping in their own personal development, irrespective of personal learning style. It will certainly be a welcome companion and guide for therapists who are engaged in reflective writing as a training or professional requirement. Ultimately, this valuable book reminds us that there are many means available to enhance therapist personal development and the capacity to mentalise our experience, and that we are likely to achieve a richer picture and experience of ourselves if we engage with multiple processes and methods of reflexive activity. It will certainly become recommended reading for counselling psychology trainees on my programme!’
Dr Mark Donati, Course Leader and Principal Lecturer, Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, London Metropolitan University

‘This is an engaging, comprehensive and practical book about writing for self-discovery and reflection. Gillie and Jeannie are both experts within the field, and their inspirational and reader friendly book will be an invaluable contribution at all levels of therapist training’
Sofie Bager-Charleson, Module Leader, Lecturer and Academic Supervisor, Metanoia Institute, London

‘This is a ground breaking and innovative book in which Jeannie Wright and Gillie Bolton provide an elegantly constructed and engaging exploration of the many and varied ways that reflective writing can support trainees in counselling and psychotherapy in their personal and professional development. They provide a host of exciting and creative suggestions for utilising reflective writing in support of healing and growth, brought to life by examples students will relate to immediately. In these respects the book will also be a source of inspiration for those practising in the field; in fact, anyone who wishes to find new and powerful ways of furthering their journey of self-exploration’
Phil Goss, Jungian Analyst and Senior Lecturer Counselling & Psychological Therapies, University of Central Lancashire

Foreword by John McLeod
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ISBN: 9780857023278
ISBN: 9780857023285