Table 1.

Writing approaches in clinical interventions

	Clinical sample	Theoretical model	Technique	Goal
Narrative exposure therapy	Post-traumatic stress disorder patients	Dual representation of traumatic memories (Elbert & Schauer, 2002)	Construction of a symbolic lifeline where stones and flowers represent negative and positive experiences. The clinician writes the autobiography and reads the narratives	–To decrease the avoidance through exposure –Elaboration of traumatic experiences –Development of hope (underling “flowers” moments) and resilience
Written Exposure Therapy	Post-traumatic stress disorder patients, veterans	Cognitive emotion-regulation (Martin & Dahlen, 2005)	In 5 weekly sessions patients write the trauma and describe the “hot spots” (moments of high emotional distress)	–To break the avoidance –“Hot spot” processing
Cognitive Processing Therapy	Post-traumatic Stress disorder patients, other diseases with intrusive symptoms	Cognitive–behavioral approach	After a psychoeducational phase, patients write sensory memories of trauma experience	–To decrease intrusive symptoms –To expose and process traumatic memories –To increase awareness
Logotherapy	Post-traumatic stress disorder patients; depression, anxiety	Phenomenological-existential approach	Writing your epitaph	–To express existential worries –To find meanings to events –To clarify values and goals
Acceptance and commitment therapy	Chronic illnesses, depression, anxiety	Cognitive–behavioral approach, relational frame theory	Thought defusion, Writing your epitaph	–To increase psychological flexibility –To promote active attitude