In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Stephanie Fitzgerald, clinical and neuropsychologist, writer and passionate advocate for journaling as a mental health tool. Stephanie has been journaling for over 30 years and runs free workshops to help people get started, and in this conversation she shares more practical wisdom than most people will find in an entire book on the subject.

If you have ever thought journaling sounds like a good idea but had no idea where to begin, felt put off by the fear of doing it wrong, or worried about someone finding what you have written, this episode is for you.

Stephanie explains why journaling works from a neuroscience perspective, including why the act of handwriting, specifically the left to right movement across the page, supports the same bilateral stimulation used in EMDR to help the brain process difficult emotions. She covers how to break free from circular thinking and worry loops using prompt questions rather than free writing, why the "no send letter" can be one of the most liberating things you ever put on paper, and what to do if journaling stirs up more emotion than you were expecting.

There is also a genuinely freeing conversation about perfectionism and notebooks, privacy agreements, and the difference between journaling that helps you and journaling that just loops the same anxiety around and around.

Stephanie's free journaling workshops and seasonal writing sessions are available at:

👉 https://stephfitzwrites.com

Follow her on Instagram for free weekly journal prompts and words of wisdom:

👉 @stephfitzwrites

To learn more about Wendy's work, explore resources, or stay up to date with future episodes, visit:

👉 https://wendycastelino.com/

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