The therapeutic benefits of writing
Creative writing in a supportive setting gently invites self-expression and self-discovery.
I also offer writing mentoring to support writing purpose with practical strategies.
I work online, and in-person in Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Aberdeenshire and London.
Elisabeth
About Elisabeth Winkler
I have earned my living all my life with words, as a freelance journalist, editor and communications specialist.
I have also kept a journal since I was twelve as a private place to make sense of things.
I recently graduated with an MSc for Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes MSc at Metanoia Institute. This brought two parts of myself together for the first time: journalist (public me) and journal writer (private me).
For my research, I explored my past when I was in the grips of the Great Unreality.
My dissertation, The Great Unreality – An autoethnographic exploration of depersonalisation-derealisation in adolescent journals using therapeutic writing – can be downloaded here.
I retrospectively self-diagnosed the psychiatric disorder, depersonalisation-derealisation.
It gave me a new perspective: I realised I had spent a lifetime in recovery, gathering insights and wisdom about becoming more grounded, more real.
I summarised my story for Unreal, the charity for depersonalisation and derealisation.
Now I am turning what I have learned about depersonalisation-derealisation and recovery into an accessible book to help others.
Real Food Lover food blog
For me, eating the right food is crucial to my mental health. Shortlisted for Guild of Food Writers 2009 awards, I write about healthy food and farming including organic (I was editor of the Soil Association magazine 2001 – 2008). Now I post sporadically with recipes to remember
I am a former communications specialist for organic, green companies, and social justice causes at Winkler Media.
I subscribe to the National Union of Journalists’ Code of Practice.
Winkler’s Writing Rules were endorsed by the Guardian.