Veteran & Public Service Writing Workshop

In this two-hour life writing workshop, participants will learn about trauma-informed writing practices that have proven effective for helping people cope with and recover from trauma, conflict, and other stressors.
In the first hour, we will introduce and practice a specific mode of personal writing, what Dr. James Pennebaker calls “expressive writing,” which involves writing about the emotional impact of a stressful experience and then integrating it into the writer’s broader life narrative.* We will then respond to brief writing prompts before taking a short break.
In the second hour, we will dive deeper into memoir writing and the importance of processing trauma and other stress through storytelling. With the “scars, not wounds” principle in mind, participants will sketch a short memoir essay (based on the freewriting completed in the first hour) about overcoming and making meaning out of a stressful life experience. Participants will leave with resources on additional writing practices, suggested reading, and community support.
*Disclaimer: This workshop is not a therapy session and this type of reflective writing cannot substitute for therapy. However, expressive has demonstrable therapeutic benefits and can help most people confront “the trauma of everyday life” (Mark Epstein). Our primary goals in this workshop include helping you tell your story and find a community of support.
For more information, please call Adult Services at 970-962-2402 or email [email protected]. This program will be held in the Gertrude Scott Meeting Room.