Have you ever attempted to start a journal and then felt like a failure when you didn’t write every day? Journal writing is far from the days of “Dear Diary” and can be found everywhere from your calendar to social media. It can be handwritten or completed on your phone. Research continues to show the positive benefits of journal writing for diverse client populations. This two part recorded lecture will discuss leading theories and research in the field of journal therapy. Additionally participants will become aware of various writing techniques designed to achieve positive outcomes with individuals dealing with multiple stressors and issues.

At the conclusion of this workshop participants will be able to:

• Define the difference between journal and therapeutic writing.
• Explore the different formats available for journal writing.
• Practice different writing techniques utilized in journal field.
• Practice journal therapy interventions to a variety of clinical populations.
• Discuss leading theories and research in the field of journal therapy.

Sheryl Withers Woolverton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville. She has worked as a counselor in the field of domestic violence and spent 12 years working as a grief counselor at Hospice of the Bluegrass. She currently has a private clinical practice specializing in life transitions and works as a part time instructor / field liaison in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. She has practiced journal writing throughout her personal life and openly journals on her blog “How to Make a Life”. She consistently utilizes journal writing techniques with her clients in private practice and students in the classroom. This course consists of a recorded lecture and interactive quizzes.

The University of Kentucky College of Social Work, ACE Approval #1377, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The UK College of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 9/29/2019 - 9/29/2022. Social workers completing this course receive two continuing education credits.

This course is also approved for 2.0 continuing education hours by the Kentucky Board of Social Work, the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology, the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, and the Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board.

Continuing education licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, are not well defined, and may change. We recommend you contact your licensing board or accrediting organization for the latest continuing education requirements of your state or territory. To review state specific/jurisdictional continuing education requirements, go here https://www.aswb.org/ace/ace-jurisdiction-map/.

To receive credit for this course, you must view/complete the entire course, pass the related post-test, and submit a completed course evaluation. If your score is less than the passing score of 75%, you may retake the test. Your certificate will become available for an automatic download once all of the requirements are complete.

Online courses cannot be cancelled and refunds are not available.

Course Originally Released on: 7/27/2015

If you have any questions regarding this course, need assistance registering for it, or experience any technical difficulties with completing it, please contact Miranda Huffman at miranda.huffman@uky.edu or at (859) 257-2895.