My T said that in the past, she has had clients that use a journal for communication for an entire year before they are comfortable enough to actually bring things up verbally. That made me feel a heck of a lot better!

I know for me, I do journal, quite a bit, actually. When something strikes me, I will finish that entry, and then edit it so it becomes an entry specifically for my T to read. I find that it helps me cut through the nervous banter and get straight to what I want to bring up. Oftentimes I give it to my T to read, though she prefers me reading it aloud to her. Sometimes, though, that just isn't possible, so she'll read it to herself. Then we talk about it.

I find the journal VERY helpful in bringing up topics I am really afraid of, or ashamed of, because once T reads the words, she somehow knows how to speak to me in a way that I'll be able to reply and continue the conversation. If she had to sit around and wait for me to bring topics up, we'd be sitting there saying nothing for a long time!