Scribing the Soul: Essays in Journal Therapy

"Scribing the Soul" is writing feast to help the body, psyche and soul through 19 beautifully presented essays and exercises. Kathleen Adams, the author and a world expert on journal therapy, has brougth to this slim, elegant work her experience as a writer, therapist, teacher and wise woman. Having read most of her books and having used her techniques with writing groups and individual clients, I was struck by the collection's freshness. It is built on solid techniques presented with a warm voice and the vibrant poems of Amy Christman.Adams has something for each of us whatever our personal place in life: personal growth, relationships, recovery from trauma and grief,and spirituality and inner wisdom. The essays themselves are short and clear, filled with Adams's own life experience and her years of working with a wide range of groups. "Scribing" honors the power of technique and the strength of the heart. She understands and shares the power of writing with simple tools while ensuring a safe place for the writer.Two of my favorite chapters are "Scribing the Authentic Self" and "Making up the Truth" The exercises on authenticity ask us to explore our true selves in a number of imaginative ways. Adams brings a deeply personal history to "making up the truth," helping us get at our truths through made-up stories--setting us free, in other words.I plan to use this guide for a writing group and as a resource for individuals. "Scribing the Soul" is some of Kathleen Adams's best work, achieving what she hoped: that the essays and poem "bring immediate beauty to your life."