Beyond Wordsmithing

The difference between writing and therapeutic journaling

How many journals is too many?

I get asked this question A LOT!

What is the difference between writing and journaling?

It’s a very valid question and one I love to explore.

My passion and mission lies in educating as many people as possible, about the mental health benefits of therapeutic journaling. So I should know what the differences are, more than anyone and they are significant…

So if you’d like to learn about these differences, grab your cuppa and buckle up, I’m going in deep on this topic :)

Writing and therapeutic journaling may seem similar at first glance, both involving the act of putting thoughts and emotion onto paper. However, they diverge in their essence and purpose, making distinct paths towards self-expression and personal growth.

When I first started journaling years ago, I was so confused about what the differences were between journaling and general writing. I guess I thought writing ‘Dear Diary’ was my way of journaling but this was just one element of it. So if you’ve never been able to explain the exact difference between writing and journaling, you’re not alone. And this is one of the reasons why people give up on a regular journaling practice due to the confusion of what it actually entails.

What I’ve learnt over the past couple of years, is that writing, in its general sense, encompasses a broad spectrum of creative endeavours - stories, essays, poetry and more.  It often revolves around storytelling, imagination or conveying information.  Writing serves a diverse purpose, from entertainment to education and often involves crafting narratives or exploring fictional worlds.

On the other hand, therapeutic journaling, also known as expressive or reflective writing, focuses primarily on your emotional and mental wellbeing.  It transcends the traditional act of writing by delving deeper into one’s thoughts, emotions and experiences.  It serves as a powerful tool for self-exploration, introspection and healing.  This is why when you journal consistently the experiences can be so profound.  

The specific differences lie in their intent and approach.  

For examples, writing may aim to entertain, inform or inspire, whereas therapeutic journaling is inherently personal, aiming to process emotions, gain insights and foster awareness.  Basically, it is a deliberate practice, which if you’ve attended any of my workshops, use guided prompts, exercises and reactive techniques which are tailored to facilitate emotional exploration.

In my humble opinion, I believe that while both involve putting pen to paper, therapeutic journaling goes beyond the surface, delving into the depths of your inner worlds.  I speak from experience, when I explain that therapeutic journaling offers solace, understanding and a path towards self discovery.

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‘The words we hesitate to speak find solace in the pages we’re unafraid to write’

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When my 13 year old son was asking me about what I did for a living and questioned what journaling is all about, this is what I said to him…

"Imagine writing as a huge big canvas, like the ones you use in school, where you express yourself in various forms, like painting pictures or communicating an idea about your favourite sport.  It’s a beautiful landscape for creativity to be explored, often designed to tell a story.  Now picture therapeutic journaling as a quiet space within this landscape/picture on the canvas, providing a calm and peaceful spot where relaxation, self discovery and healing happens.”

It was a really interesting conversation to have with a young teenager. It made me think more about exploring the differences.  Each week at work, I have in depth conversations with healthcare practitioners about this.  Recently whilst talking to a GP, I explained that writing is all about storytelling whereas therapeutic journaling is a private conversation with yourself, where you can express how you feel, explaining what is making you happy, sad, angry or confused. A place on the page where you can be honest, explain things you may never want to share with anyone else and that is ok.

I went on to explain that writing often aims to showcase skills and convey a message, whereas therapeutic journaling focuses inwardly, encouraging self-reflection, emotional processing and personal growth.  Which is why, I believe, the health sector should work towards promoting therapeutic journaling as a lifestyle medicine option, not only to patients nut all NHS staff, now more than ever. I also think strongly about the fact therapeutic journaling should be on the school curriculum! One day eh?!

In essence, writing casts a wide net, touching diverse realms and audiences, while therapeutic journaling narrows the focus, offering a sanctuary for inner peace, emotional expression and all round healing.

Many writers I know, say that they use their journal as a place to brain dump, get all the icky stuff out, before they really get into the nitty gritty of writing the next few pages of their novel. At the end of the day, the best type of therapeutic journaling for you, is the technique that you can commit to on a daily basis, that suits you and fits around your lifestyle. I had to break all the journaling rules before I found a technique that suited me and my busy schedule. I literally cannot go a day without journaling! And that says a lot, because I have real commitment issues - another Substack story for another day :)

Do let me know if you’d like to discuss this topic further. You can ask me any questions in the comments section or maybe you’re on a therapeutic journaling journey yourself and would like to share your most recent insights? As you can tell, I’m really passionate about educating as many people as possible about the mental health benefits that therapeutic journaling offers. I would be forever grateful if you could please share the love!

Until the next time

Take care & stay safe xx

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