It was settled then, needling parents for a journal with a key became a daily thing (remember those?). Mama finally relented and so begun the first of a series of journals that have traveled with me here and there. Dog-earned, cried over and highlighted, the blank pages that never judged or condemned became the recipient of years of emotional highs and lows.

                                   

Journaling stood me in good stead when I started working as a, well…journalist. It was in fact an essay about going on summer holiday at my Dad´s hometown that brought my writing to the attention of an editor. That same summer, I sent my poetry to be vetted for a national workshop and received a fellowship (Cornelio Faigao National Writer´s Workshop). The next five years was a whirlwind of workshops, poetry readings, a weekly column at a daily and then eventually a job as a features editor in the same media company (niche publications division). This led to writing, lecturing and consulting stints within the Asia and eventually in Europe.

 

While my writing life blossomed, I also continued with my nursing career as a psychology lecturer, rescue group volunteer and clinical experience as an infectious disease and family health nurse. I did take time off from the newspaper to accept a fellowship in China (Shunde City Library in Daliang, Shunde) teaching medical English as well as CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) & IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) prep courses to nurses and doctors. On returning to the Philippines, I taught Bisaya and Filipino to foreign nationals working in the Philippines at the Cebu Multicultural Learning Center.

 

The itchy feet struck again. I learned about nursing opportunities in Iceland, immediately sent off an application citing psychiatry as my main interest and got accepted. Since arriving in 2007, I have worked in the Psychiatric Emergency Unit which was later expanded to become the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.

 

Wanting to “marry” my seemingly different life experiences, I diligently searched for and discovered journal therapy. Signed up for courses under Kathleen Adams and eventually completing certification with Stonebridge in the UK. Here in Iceland, I continue to write my columns and also work as a mental health professional.

 

In my practice as a writer and as a mental health nurse, I noticed how well journaling / writing fits into the therapeutic arsenal in mental health practice. It has allowed those who use it as a tool for gaining specially good insights into decision making and life goals. Plus, it´s way more fun than sitting across a therapist who might not remember what you talked about a month ago!

 

Writing is a daily struggle against the silence. Allow me to help you realize for yourself how to use writing as a therapeutic tool. Let´s have fun writing together!