Discover the mental health benefits of expressive writing in our Writing for Wellbeing workshop—a 75-minute introduction to the science and practice of writing for personal growth and resilience.
University study involves a fair bit of writing, even if your chosen degree is more hands-on. When writing primarily for learning or assessment, it’s easy to lose sight of the joy and value of writing. Both of us—Gareth and Grace—understand this well from our backgrounds in psychology and creative writing, where writing was a core part of our academic journey but often focused on grades and outputs.
Yet writing isn’t just a means to an academic end; it can also be a powerful tool for mental and emotional wellbeing. In this 75-minute workshop, Writing for Wellbeing, we invite you to explore the fascinating body of research that shows how expressive writing can contribute to mental health. We’ll dive into the foundational work of psychologist James Pennebaker, whose pioneering studies demonstrated that even brief writing exercises can help people process difficult experiences, reduce stress, and improve mood. His findings ignited a surge of interest and research, leading to new protocols and ongoing questions about the mechanisms of how writing might enhance wellbeing.
About the workshop
This workshop is designed as an introduction to the science of expressive writing, offering you a glimpse into both the simplicity and complexity of this practice. We’ll trace the journey from Pennebaker’s original expressive writing method—a straightforward exercise inviting individuals to write about their deepest thoughts and feelings—to the diverse range of structured writing protocols now available. You’ll learn about how techniques like gratitude journaling, life crafting, and positive reflection have emerged from this foundational research, each with its own focus and potential benefits.
While our primary aim is to introduce you to the research, the workshop will also give you a chance to try out some of these methods for yourself. You’ll experience a brief session of expressive writing, which involves setting aside time to explore your thoughts and emotions in a confidential, judgment-free space. We’ll also guide you through a positive reflection exercise, like gratitude journaling or imagining your best possible future, so you can see how different types of writing can have varying impacts on mood and outlook.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a solid understanding of the basics of expressive writing and the science that supports it. You may leave with some inspiration to try different approaches in your own time, experimenting with writing as a personal tool for self-reflection and growth. You’ll also have an increased awareness of both the benefits and limitations of expressive writing—gaining insights into when this practice might be most helpful, and for whom.
Throughout, we aim to create an interactive and supportive environment. We encourage participants to engage with the material, but sharing your writing is entirely optional; this space is designed to be comfortable, with the freedom to participate in ways that feel right for you. After the workshop, you’ll take home a workbook with a summary of the exercises we covered, along with resources for further exploration, should you wish to dive deeper into the practice.
How to Join
The Writing for Wellbeing workshop will be held several times over 2025, and this post will be updated with upcoming session dates. To register your interest and be notified directly of when dates are announced, fill out the following form.
If you have any questions about the workshop, feel free to contact us directly: gareth.furber@flinders.edu.au and grace.chipperfield@flinders.edu.au
