my new T journal

granite1 · Apr 23, 2011, 08:29 AM

i made a new T journal to use in therapy.i want to write the thoughts i might have about stuff brought up in therapy in hopes of being able to share it with my T.i dont know if it will work because of her hang up about me speaking and not using writing as a replacement of using words.i know she doesnt want me e-mailing and writing and sending letters but i do think she said i could write stuff and bring it in to read.but what if i dont want to read it or decide it is something i dont want to talk about.and she wants to read it .maybe i should ask her what her expectations would be around me using this form of communication

it seemed like a fun project and a great solution if it worked .but now im not so sure

would love it if you went to my homw page and check out the pic of my journal and let me know what you think.i'm kind of proud of it

Elli-Beth · Apr 23, 2011, 09:05 AM

I use my journal a lot between sessions. I still try to talk as much as possible about what I wrote rather than just reading from it, but it's comforting to have a back up. It's become a good reminder or clarifier for once I get into his office and my mind either goes blank or gets overwhelmed. I also have some doodles, pictures, and quotes in it for my own comfort.

WePow · Apr 23, 2011, 09:10 AM

I use TONS of journals. I think it is a wonderful idea!

maggyjo · Apr 23, 2011, 10:12 AM

I want to start to journal after session, so maybe I can hold on to what happened longer. Maybe I will get more out of it this way.

Maggy Jo

karebear1 · Apr 23, 2011, 10:13 AM

granite- you are an artist! Your journal is beautiful. I love to do this kind of stuff too and I know how much time and effort are spent in making one of these journals. GREAT JOB! I love the title of your journal as well............ kinda reminds me of me too!

The time you spent making this indicates to me how much this journaling means to you. I think you T would love if you journaled and wouldn't expect you to share anything from it unless you wanted to share it. I've always wanted to do this and make one for T as well- ask her to journal what she thinks about our sessions and then have her share those thoughts as well- I'm just to chicken to do that- just don't know if I could handle what she has to say. BUT I have thought about making one for her anyways, just so she can journal her own thoughts... not to share.

Do you scrapbook as well?

dizgirl2011 · Apr 23, 2011, 10:23 AM

Wow your Journal is beautiful, do you do a lot of scrap booking or art?

I also use a Journal for my Therapy, I would kind of be lost without it as I find it hard to remember stuff that happens in sessions if I don't write it down and also if things come up in between sessions I know I would forget it if I didn't write it down.

I used to find talking extremely hard so I would write stuff down and ask my T to read it, so I would hand it to her. She would ask me if I could read it myself but when I said no she usually read it. she would sometimes ask me if she could read it out loud to me.
It took me a long time but now I am usually able to read the stuff out myself, which took a lot of courage on my behalf as I don't like reading out loud ( a thing I have hated since my school days). My T says by reading it out myself I am taking ownership of what I have written and my thoughts etc but by handing it to someone else I am sort of separting myself from it and disowning what i have written. But it took time to get to the point I could read things out myself.

I wonder if this is what your T means about not liking you writting stuff down in replacement for actually saying the stuff? Maybe if you could read it to her she wouldnt mind..or if you explained how you felt about wanting to write stuff then she would understand or accept it more?

Many people use journals as some ppl find they can communicate better in writting about how they truely feel... I know I can.

Even if you don't take the Journal to your sessions it may help to still write down how you feel about things and then read over your journal before your session so that you can try and remember what you want to mention in your session? I often do this!

I also find when I am feeling low, just writing things out makes me feel a bit better!

huge hugs

Diz xxx

lastyearisblank · Apr 23, 2011, 10:24 AM

So pretty! I really like that.

SpiritRunner · Apr 23, 2011, 10:37 AM

wonderful idea and your journal is really cool, you did a great job!

PTSDlovemycats · Apr 23, 2011, 02:52 PM

I love it Granite!

Apr 23, 2011, 03:53 PM

Ooh, sounds like a great idea, and so much more person and special because you made it

I really want to see it- can someone take pity on my lack of technology and explain how?

granite1 · Apr 23, 2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Improving

Ooh, sounds like a great idea, and so much more person and special because you made it

I really want to see it- can someone take pity on my lack of technology and explain how?

just go to my home page and i posted a picture on the left hand side just click on it to look at it bigger

velcro003 · Apr 23, 2011, 10:21 PM

granite--that is beautiful! i am contemplating bringing in a lyrics journal i'm working on to therapy.

my new T journal

granite1 · Apr 24, 2011, 06:08 AM

velcro did you make that it is awsome

WikidPissah · Apr 24, 2011, 06:17 AM

Granite! Your journal is beautiful!! I know you are going to love to process stuff after therapy in it. Just an idea...but here's what I do: I write in my journal after T and during the week and before my next T session I go thru with a highlighter and highlight just a couple things I might want to say. I always have it in my bag, but I haven't had the guts to pull it out yet (but I do email weekly). So bring it with you, and just maybe you can get the guts to share it!!

velcro003 · Apr 24, 2011, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by granite1

velcro did you make that it is awsome

yeah, i make a lot of journals. this one i'm most proud of because its all out of recycled cereal boxes!

granite1 · Apr 24, 2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WikidPissah

Granite! Your journal is beautiful!! I know you are going to love to process stuff after therapy in it. Just an idea...but here's what I do: I write in my journal after T and during the week and before my next T session I go thru with a highlighter and highlight just a couple things I might want to say. I always have it in my bag, but I haven't had the guts to pull it out yet (but I do email weekly). So bring it with you, and just maybe you can get the guts to share it!!

i wish i caried a bag or something i could hide it in but i never carry one all i carry is a small walet because i alway kept leaving my bag at places.so if i brought it i would have to talk about it because i couldnt hide it.lol but i guess that is the point.just worry what would happen if i change my mind

granite1 · Apr 24, 2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velcro003

yeah, i make a lot of journals. this one i'm most proud of because its all out of recycled cereal boxes!

that is so awsome

velcro003 · Apr 24, 2011, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by granite1

i wish i caried a bag or something i could hide it in but i never carry one all i carry is a small walet because i alway kept leaving my bag at places.so if i brought it i would have to talk about it because i couldnt hide it.lol but i guess that is the point.just worry what would happen if i change my mind

there has been many times i've clearly brought in something to read/show my T and never could. she usually goes "so i see you brought something in" and then lets me take the lead. sometimes i get the courage to read/show it, sometimes it takes the entire session, and sometimes i just can't. my T has never pushed it.

dizgirl2011 · Apr 24, 2011, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velcro003

there has been many times i've clearly brought in something to read/show my T and never could. she usually goes "so i see you brought something in" and then lets me take the lead. sometimes i get the courage to read/show it, sometimes it takes the entire session, and sometimes i just can't. my T has never pushed it.

This has happened me many times also...it can be really hard to just take something of out my bag at times and I dont even know why!

PTSDlovemycats · Apr 24, 2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velcro003

yeah, i make a lot of journals. this one i'm most proud of because its all out of recycled cereal boxes!

That is so cool! Ad Granite, I love yours too!!

dinosaurs · Apr 25, 2011, 02:49 AM

hi granite,

i like your journal. between each session i write in my journal to t about stuff i think and feel and my reactions to the last session. i had a rule for self that i had to just write honestly without thinking about how t would react to the written stuff. and the 2nd rule was that i had to give t the journal each session no matter what. i guess in the session i distanced myself from the journal and refused to remember what was written in it when i handed it to him. using it like this has been a huge part of my healing. good luck with yours.

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