A space to pause, reflect, and find yourself
A guided two-hour online session for beginners – no experience needed. The benefits, the evidence, and building your personal practice.
You've thought about starting a journal. Maybe you've tried it before, and it didn't stick. Maybe you picked up a beautiful notebook and then stared at the blank page until you put it away.
This session is for you.
In two hours, you'll go from 'I don't know where to start' to having tried four guided techniques, understanding why journalling works, and knowing exactly how to build a simple practice that fits your life. There is no word count, no daily commitment required, and no right or wrong way to do it.
In this session, you'll:
- Discover the different types of journalling and find the ones that suit you
- Understand the science behind why writing works with evidence you can trust
- Try four guided activities, including a writing sprint, the visual exercise, gratitude journalling, and reflective writing
- Learn how to build a simple ritual that fits your life
- Leave with a list of resources to keep exploring
The science behind it
Psychologist James Pennebaker has spent decades researching what happens when we write honestly about our lives. His findings show that just 15–20 minutes of expressive writing, done over a few days, produces measurable improvements in mental and physical health.
A 2022 meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, drawing on 31 randomised studies and over 4,000 participants, found that expressive writing produced a significant reduction in depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms – and the benefits tend to build over time rather than appearing overnight.
What you'll take away
- Clarity about what journalling is and how to use it
- A small set of techniques you've already tried
- And the confidence to open a blank page without freezing
Who this session is for
Complete beginners. People who've tried before and stopped.
Anyone who is curious about journalling and wants to understand expressive writing properly. You do not need any writing experience or to have tried it before.
'I left feeling lighter and brighter. Anna gently and confidently took us through different techniques, with each one building more and more clarity.'
'This gave me the confidence to try journalling properly and understand that it's not about perfection.'
What to bring
A notebook and pen, or your laptop if you prefer to type.
About Anna
Anna Woolliscroft holds a Merit-level MA in Creative Writing and Wellbeing and is a certified Journal to the Self® Instructor. She's been facilitating journalling sessions since 2023, journalling most of her life, and her circles and workshops have welcomed women at all stages of life – including people who arrived certain they couldn't journal and left booking their next session within the hour!
📍£24 | Online via Zoom | Monday 2 November | 5:30-7:30 pm
