Healing touch: Write remedy

It can help you write what is wrong with you. And make a word of difference to the way you see yourself.

Stress, loneliness, low self-esteem or grief, whatever may plague you, Femida Hirji's group sessions of Therapeutic Writing could be the cure.

Unique medium

"It is a group therapy that uses writing as a medium to allow people to develop and connect to their emotions. Once these emotions have been explored, people can choose what they'd like to do about them. It's a way of healing, outpouring and relieving tension and coping with everyday life," said Hirji, a qualified occupational therapist and counsellor from the UK who's worked with celebrities like Kate Moss and Robbie Williams.

Hirji's course, expected to start next month, draws on the healing power of the act of putting pen to paper to deal with emotional issues, a practice that has increasingly been suffering at the hands of modern technology.

The therapy is not an exercise in creative writing but designed to encourage people to articulate themselves and express their emotions, clarified Hirji, who worked at the Priory, London, a psychotherapeutic hospital.

Being honest

"It isn't about the quality of the writing. There are no rights or wrongs in this course. Your feelings, thoughts and emotions are your own and so how can they be wrong? Spelling and grammar are not important. One just has to be honest and true to oneself when writing," she said.

Therapeutic writing and its benefits rest on the bedrock of trust, empathy and sharing. The very processes can be an exercise in catharsis and healing. "Sharing one's writing can draw appreciation and support from other group members. A certain type of energy is created which encourages the writer to go beyond their comfort zone."

Pent-up feelings

The exercise is a way of uncorking bottled up emotions. It offers perspective and allows the member to work through suppressed emotions.

In order for members to be honest and trusting, group boundaries are formed right at the beginning. "It helps members feel safe. To ensure group dynamics, members are requested to attend the full eight-week course. Attendance of all sessions is essential."

The once-a-week three-hour- long session will include introduction, warm-up writing activity, main writing activity, feedback and discussion.

Each group will have a maximum of eight to 10 members and no new members will be allowed to join until the next course.

The course would be best suited to those who can commit time and have a basic command of the English language.

"This course is open to anybody who is coming with an open mind and is willing to be honest and true," said Hirji.

Therapeutic writing promises to be a great way to explore a whole new word out there.