![]() ![]() ![]() Guided journals can help with everything from cultivating gratitude and self-awareness to building professional skills. Talking to a therapist before embarking on this type of deep reflective practice may be helpful - especially if you need a stronger support system. Naturally, pouring your heart out can leave you reeling from surprising self-discoveries. Neidich adds that people with personality disorders may find themselves triggered when journaling. Revisiting expressions of powerful emotions can have a negative effect. “One of the biggest mistakes I see folks making is reading back over what they wrote in the past,” she explains. It may even worsen mental health symptoms for some people, explains Neidich. Journaling also isn’t universally helpful. But some people react negatively to looking inward, so having a therapist who can guide you through and help you process those feelings is important. “What I’ve experienced anecdotally is that journaling helps people to get to know themselves and become awake to the reality of their inner world,” Neidich says. Neidich adds that although there are certainly benefits to journaling, they aren’t a substitute for therapy or other treatments. One 2013 study found that people with major depressive disorder who wrote down their thoughts and feelings for at least 20 minutes a day for 3 consecutive days had lower depression scores than people who wrote about mundane events in their day. Neidich also points out that research supports the powerful, therapeutic benefits of journaling. “I’ve witnessed journaling serve as a powerful booster to therapy, and it’s a very creative way to get to know oneself,” says Neidich. Others prefer to journal in the morning as a way to clear their mind for the day ahead. ![]() Some people might journal before a therapy session to organize their thoughts. Psychotherapist Haley Neidich, a journaler herself, incorporates journaling into all of her client’s treatment plans, though the practice differs from person to person. Looking inward can be scary, but it can also help you get better acquainted with your beautiful self. Some people can jump into journaling without guidance, while others may need some direction and encouragement to sit down and reflect. Still, it can be a helpful tool for sorting out your thoughts, goal setting, or just plain reflecting on your day. Of course, journaling isn’t a substitute for professional help. Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues or just need an outlet for your thoughts, guided journaling may help. We all worry, stress, or feel out of control at some point. Best for long-term journaling: F*cking Brilliant One Line a Day Journal.Best for edgier prompts: Burn After Writing.Best for self-discovery: Let That Sh*t Go.Best gratitude journal: The 5-Minute Gratitude Journal: Give Thanks, Practice Positivity, Find Joy.Best goal-setting journal: Poketo Quarterly Goal Planner.Best for beginners: A Year of Zen: A 52-Week Guided Journal. ![]()
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