Make sense of your story

Last, deliberately — and with care

Ordering your own history is one of the strongest things known to stop the harm passing to your children. It is also the piece most likely to overwhelm you, which is why it comes last.

01 —

Not at three in the morning

And not alone if you are already struggling.

02 —

Twenty minutes, then stop

Set a timer and keep it.

03 —

Ground yourself afterwards

Have the grounding exercise ready before you begin.

04 —

Stop if you are flooded

Stopping is a skill, not a failure. Come back another day.

EVIDENCE & CLINICAL LITERATURE

How strong is the evidence? Pennebaker's expressive writing protocol has modest but real support. His own cautions are part of the method and are reproduced here.