Literature Review on Therapy Approaches as a Therapeutic and Developmental Tool for the Individual

Writing therapy can be defined as the process in which the client uses writing as a tool for selfexpression and reflection, regardless of whether the client creates the writing himself or if a therapist or researcher recommends it to the client (Wright & Chung, 2001 ). It is distinguished by the use of writing as a therapeutic and developmental tool for the individual. Since initial research conducted by James Pennebaker, writing therapy has been found to have therapeutic benefits in elaborating traumatic situations (Pennebaker & Beall, 1986). In recent years, it has been shown that writing that is both impressive and creative has good effects on the writer's physical and psychological health (Nicholls, 2009). Writing is used to create personal identity and purpose through the use of autobiographical writing in today's clinical practice, which has moved from a distress-focused approach to an educational one (Hunt, 2010). In this context, autobiographical writing is becoming an increasingly popular method that enables individuals to reflect on the course of their lives and gain a deeper understanding of the here and now (McAdams, 2008). It has also been observed that people generally tend to record major life events in their personal diaries, regardless of whether such experiences are positive or bad (Van Deurzen , 2012). A diary is a type of logbook in which specific entries such as thoughts, ideas, reflections, self- assessment and self-assurance statements are written. Journaling is a way of writing that encourages the writer to be more free . The difference between journaling and therapeutic writing is that in journaling, the writer is not given clear instructions on the topics and methodology to follow while writing as in therapeutic writing. Keeping a diary these days can also be done through online blogs and social networking sites (Facebook). A private and impromptu diary can then be made public using this method. Writing approaches are often included in speech treatments, as both procedures (speaking and writing) promote the organization, acceptance, and integration of memories in the process of self-understanding (Lyubomirsky et al., 2006). However, expressive writing has also been shown to be useful when used as a "stand-alone" therapy for the treatment of symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Reinhold et al., 2018). For the treatment of traumatized individuals, a recent study has shown that enhanced expressive writing (also known as writing with planned interactions with a therapist) is as beneficial as regular psychotherapy. It was observed that expressive writing on its own without additional discussion with a therapist was only marginally lower than in talk therapy.