Spoken language is the primary medium of counseling and psychotherapy. The therapeutic value of written language has also been studied extensively, both to provide self-help information and to elicit personal reflection. Interactive journaling (IJ) is a guided writing process that combines both of these functions. It has differed from usual therapeutic writing in two ways: (a) by integrating the presentation of treatment-relevant information in graphic-enhanced text to engage the reader, and (b) by offering frequent structured opportunities for the client to respond to and integrate material being presented. This article provides a description and the first review of research on IJ as a clinical tool. Experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations support a link between IJ and behavior change. Research on motivational interviewing offers evidence-based guidelines for structuring IJ materials to elicit language favoring change, as well as testable hypotheses linking writing processes with outcomes. Implications for counseling practice and research are considered.
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1 January 2014
Research Article|
January 13 2014
Interactive Journaling as a Clinical Tool
William Miller
William Miller
1
University of New Mexico
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Journal of Mental Health Counseling (2014) 36 (1): 31–42.
Citation
William Miller; Interactive Journaling as a Clinical Tool. Journal of Mental Health Counseling 1 January 2014; 36 (1): 31–42. doi: https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.36.1.0k5v52l12540w218
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