What will your story be? The Transformative Power of Expressive Writing

This literature review explores research focusing on the potential for e- xpressive writing to heal and transform adults. Our stories have the capa- city to name and bring closure to painful and unpleasant events. Stories al- low us to explore the pieces of our lives–from the mundane to the trauma- tic–and weave them into a comprehensive whole. In this review the term “heal” is used in psychological and somatic terms. Does nailing our pain to the page renew our sense of self? Do our bodies seem lighter because wri- ting lifts our burdens? An analysis of the studies about writing and healing 167 results in a synthesis of three interrelated themes that underscore expressive writing’s function as a healing process: revealing our secrets, naming our pain, and the associated physical and mental health benefits. The connection between story making and truth telling as tools for self- discovery and as catalysts for perspective transformation begs further study.