In this episode, we are joined by licensed professional counselor DeeAnna Nagel to talk about one of her favorite creative tools—therapeutic writing—and how it can be woven into clinical work.

DeeAnna shares how writing, whether through journaling, email, or chat-based therapy, can help clients process their experiences in a way that feels safe and personal. We explore different approaches, from structured prompts to active imagination exercises, and even how adding elements like essential oils or somatic techniques can deepen the experience.

We also dig into how written communication—especially email and chat—can support therapeutic continuity, offer flexibility, and sometimes open up insights that might not come out in a traditional session. Along the way, we discuss boundaries, the evolving role of AI in therapy and other ways of processing life events.

Whether you’re a therapist curious about adding writing to your toolkit or simply interested in new ways to process emotions and experiences, this episode is full of practical ideas you can start experimenting with right away.

Find out more about our guest, DeeAnna:

https://deeannamerznagel.com/writing-resources/

IG: @deeannanagel

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠ LinkedIn.⁠

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellie Mental Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:57 Exploring Therapeutic Writing

05:52 Journaling Techniques and Prompts

07:57 Incorporating Aromatherapy and Somatic Work

12:43 The Power of Written Communication in Therapy

16:13 Challenges and Training in Online Therapy

19:47 The Early Days of Online Therapy

20:26 Integrating Email and Chat in Therapy

21:48 Billing and Flexibility in Online Therapy

24:35 Therapeutic Writing and Boundaries

29:44 AI and Therapy: A New Frontier

32:53 Synchronicity Journals and Client Prompts

35:42 Final Thoughts and Resources