[SingDanceRunLife]

Over this past weekend, I went on a retreat known as InterMission which is basically a discernment retreat. Throughout the weekend, we heard a lot of stories, had a lot of discussion, and were also given lots of reflection time. Each retreatent got a journal to use, and I wrote a lot in mine, and I feel like a lot of it is extremely applicable to one of the things I have been talking about with my T all semester.

I want to share some of it, but at the same time, I'm a bit unsure because it's like this super private thing, and half of it is gut reaction to things, so I'm not even sure it actually makes sense anyway.

Should I bring it to my session on Friday?

[Elli-Beth]

I do, but I only read from parts of it if it's super relevant to what we're going over and if I can't better express it any other way. So for example I was having trouble explaining my anger about an issue so I had my T read a poem I wrote in my journal that was way more clear than I was at the moment.

My T loves to look through my journal and is always respectful about which pages I want to/don't want to share

6. Ask your therapist to read your online blog entry, Facebook page, or support group posting.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archive...lk-in-therapy/

[BlessedRhiannon]

I always bring my journal to therapy. I may not always read from it, but if I'm having trouble verbalizing something, I will read what I've written, or just use it as a prompt for talking. I have occassionally read full entries to my T, mostly when I'm having a hard time talking about something.

I offered once to let my T read an entry, but she insists that I read my entries out loud. She's never read from it herself, or really looked through it.

I find it very helpful to bring my journal with me.

[granite1]

i often thought about starting a therapy journal.not nessisarally about my deepest darkest feelings and stuff, but about things that i would want to tell my therapist about.even simple things.for times i cant even say hi.but i dont because i cant deal with the fact that she would make me read it outloud or something.i often wish i could and think it is a great idea

[Elli-Beth]

My T reads my writing out loud for me so I can hear my words being spoken and it's wonderful! A few times I've tried to read for him, but we've decided it's more helpful for me to hear him.

[SpiritRunner]

I always bring journaling to T, and she reads it quietly. I don't bring my personal journal, though, but journaling I did specifically for session. I generally have journaling as part of my HW, anyway, and use the journaling as a chance to say things hard to say in session.
So I think it's a good idea to bring journaling to therapy for T to read!

[SingDanceRunLife]

I wouldn't let her read it!

I'll show her some things in it, and read some things I have written down...but it is a personal reflection journal from retreat, so it's not really something that I want anyone else to read.

I've never brought anything written to T before. I've thought about it on multiple occasions, but have never actually done it...

[skysblue]

I find it really helpful to bring some of my written material to session. I need my T to help me figure myself out so whatever clues I think will help her help me, I try to give to her.

[seventyeight]

one more vote for 'yes!' bring your journal in i've read things out of mine as well, and those have been some of the more powerful, more connected, more intense sessions that i've had. i think it takes things to another level, like showing her another another (deeper) part of yourself. good luck, sing!