FAQ

​According to the National Association of Poetry Therapy “‘Bibliotherapy’ literally means books, or literature, to serve or help medically. Poetry Therapy is a specific and powerful form of bibliotherapy, unique in its use of metaphor, imagery, rhythm, and other poetic devices.” 

During a one-on-one or group session, the facilitator uses literature as a starting point for writing and discussion. The facilitator selects texts based on the needs of the group or an individual or to simply emphasize and explore the theme of the particular workshop.

With journal therapy, the writer uses expressive writing as a way to process emotions, achieve clarity, and engage in healing.   There is quite a bit of cross-over between biblio/poetry therapy and journal therapy and the two are often used in tandem.  The difference with biblio/poetry therapy is that a text is always used to generate the self-reflection and subsequent writing and discussion.

Writing for All offers workshops that prioritize reading and writing for well-being by combining techniques from both biblio/poetry therapy, journal therapy, expressive writing, mindfulness meditation, and creative writing. 

Hannah's primary offering is Journal to the Self, a trademarked course created by expressive writing expert, Kathleen Adams.  Kathleen (Kay) is the founder of the Therapeutic Writing Institute in Colorado and a leader in the field of expressive writing.  Along with many others around the world, Hannah trained under Kay to become a certified Journal to the Self instructor.  

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A JTTS or other expressive writing class is not a Creative Writing class, even though it may inspire you to write creatively.  Your writing is not critiqued or assessed.  Usually, discussion centers on the process of engaging in the writing, rather than the writing itself.  As a facilitator, Hannah's role is to gently guide you to become more self-reflective through engaging in writing and reading.  Discussion of poems and stories centers on your personal thoughts and feelings rather than the opinions of critics and experts. 

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Hannah's workshops either approach the use of writing and reading for healing purposes in a general, introductory fashion, or they are designed to accommodate the needs of specific groups or individuals. ​​​​​

No.  Not at all.  The writing you do is private.  You share only if you feel comfortable and you never submit anything for marks or assessment.  If you have had an experience with ‘toxic feedback’ in the past that has hindered your enjoyment of writing, then this is the place for you.  You can safely express yourself without the worry of being assessed or judged.  

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If you are looking for feedback on your writing, you might consider Hannah's manuscript editing or writing coaching services.  ​​​​​

These workshops benefit anyone looking for a simple, non-threatening, and cost effective DIY tool for healing.  A journaling or expressive writing workshop can offer you insight into who you are, where you’re going in life, and what you want. 

Using writing and reading in therapeutic ways is something many of us already do.  Sharing this marvelously beneficially therapeutic tool in a group setting can encourage empathy for others and insight into the self.  As you quickly find out from listening to a character in a story, a speaker in a poem, or a fellow workshop participant, your experiences are rarely unique and your feelings are most certainly felt by your fellow human beings at some point or another. 

As a workshop participant you will discover the joy of this connectedness and the comfort of witnessing your seemingly private experiences and emotions repeated in others. 

When looking at the emotional lives of others, whether they are characters or real people, and certainly when we write about our own lives, we can release emotions that we are not quite ready for.  This can be uncomfortable, but it can also lead to relief.  Writing expressively has even been linked to greater immune function

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Regardless of these benefits, Writing for All’s workshops are no substitute for professional clinical counseling.  Difficult feelings may emerge, whether you want them to or not, and this is a risk we all take when we engage in any type of healing activity.  If you are struggling to cope with your emotions, please seek the help of a trained counselor.  In fact, taking a Writing for All class while in therapy is the best practice.  Please avoid taking a Writing for All class in lieu of counseling. 

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It may not be the right time for you to engage in an expressive writing group, but you may be able to work one-on-one with Hannah under the supervision of a licensed therapist.  If you have any concerns, please reach out before registering for a course.

Just come as you are.  Come with an open heart and a desire to listen to and learn from others.  And don’t forget to bring a pen and paper – or laptop if you prefer to type.

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For mentoring sessions, at the end of each meeting, Hannah will discuss with you any home practice suggestions.

Hannah has kept a journal since childhood. This led to a realization, early on, that writing benefitted her emotionally and mentally.  After using some of her personal experiences as inspiration in her first novel, Hannah noticed that, upon publication, memories that had once haunted her almost disappeared from her mind.  The memories faded.  Because some of these memories were traumatic, she started to see the writing and publishing process as therapeutic.

After this discovery, Hannah turned her attention to understanding the why and how of this phenomenon.  This lead her to study at the Therapeutic Writing Institute, where she encountered the theories of Kay Adams, Ira Progoff, and James Pennebaker.  She learned that, yes, writing does have therapeutic outcomes and can even alter neural pathways.  Most surprising were the studies that showed links between writing and improved physical health.  

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As a professor of English and Creative Writing at Okanagan College, Hannah repeatedly noticed the healing power of writing.  Whether it was Mary Shelley working out her wounds in Frankenstein, James Joyce using his debut novel to process the hellfire and brimstone seared into his brain as a child, or Alice Walker writing about being shot in the eye with a bb gun, these writers were processing their experiences through fictional and nonfictional worlds. 

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Lastly, Hannah walks the walk.  She continues to write novels and poems.  And she journals – daily, if possible.  New insights crop up all the time, ones she would love to share with you. ​​​​​​​

​​​Writing for All is for anyone who likes to write, yes, but it’s also for those who don’t, or who want to but have been hamstrung by critical and disparaging messaging. A critical lens on our soul’s work can be deflating – and, strangely, sometimes also motivating.

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As an editor, Hannah will help you take your writing to the next level; as a workshop facilitator, she will share the magic of using writing for healing and self-growth; as a coach, she will meet you wherever you are – whether you are an experienced writer seeking guidance, a newbie seeking inspiration, or a childhood journal keeper who wants to rediscover an old habit.

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Work with Hannah to see what your writing is here to teach you!