My first T asked me if he could use excerpts from my journals in a book he was writing, and did in fact publish.

I said I was okay with it, but before the book went out to the publisher, I wanted to read the parts where my journal was referenced. Of course he agreed to this.

By the time the book was ready for publication, I was no longer in therapy with him, and was in T with someone else. I took the book into a session with her and we went over it. This was about 20 years ago, and I still remember it really well.

My experience of reading my words interspersed with some of the theoretical points he was making about healing was an incredible one for me. It was so intellectually and emotionally affirming of me as a person, because it reinforced how well he had been listening to me and how much progress I really had made. It was clear that he understood who I really was, the things that were important to me, how and why I held onto things to survive and what I needed to make healthier choices. It helped make so much sense out of a therapeutic process that was never that clear to me, and it helped normalize my feelings, my experience, my history. I didn't sound like a character who was loooney tunes crazy who frittered her time away in therapy, I sounded like someone who had been through a lot who had managed to find meaning and joy in life.

And knowing that maybe my story might have helped other T's help their clients (it was written for professionals, not survivors) or maybe just understand something better, that was a bonus too. For many years, I had his book on my shelves. I looked at it from time to time to remember that I was not an idiot or a lunatic. Earlier this year I decided I didn't need to hold onto it anymore, because the experience that it represents is still within me.

I don't know, from where I sit I think it's an opportunity for you. You could benefit from seeing how your words are used-- I would ask him to show you how exactly he would use it. I do think you need to talk to him more before you decide. I don't think it matters whether it would be helpful to him or not, you and your feelings are what counts.