Write Through It: The Creative Writing Approach to Mental Health

The prevalence of mood disorders in Northern Irish school-aged children is approximately twenty-five percent higher than in the rest of the UK. This means that many of our children are experiencing an avoidable impact on their quality of life, education, family life, and fun activities.

Write Through It is a group-based, creative-writing approach to the management of mental health issues such as anxiety and stress. However, more importantly, Write Through It does not take a one-technique-suits-all approach – it is designed to be individualised and dynamic. We are all unique and diverse, and Write Through It embraces this.

The 6-week course employs techniques such as positive psychology, solution-focused strategies, CBT, and free association; all under the non-invasive umbrella of creative writing.   

• ·  Improves skill-set in regards to creativity, reading, and writing skills
• ·  Increases resilience
• ·  And most importantly, is fun!

Write Through It allows a young person to focus on what’s really important in life; their happiness, friends, schoolwork, and home life.

*Write Through It is not a diagnostic tool or assessment. It employs strategies for externalising and managing maladaptive thoughts in creative ways.

Write Through It is created and run by Jemma Strain, a mental health professional with an MA with distinction in creative writing from Queen’s University, a BSc. and a number of postgraduate qualifications in psychology from Queen’s University, over twelve years experience in developmental, educational, and clinical psychology, lead writer and editor for The Attachment Project, and author of mental health books on Attachment Theory and ADHD.