Collaborative reflection and trauma : narrative writing as a healing intervention

Narrative writing as a healing intervention involves the repeated recounting of a traumatic event. Research shows the benefits of narrative writing as an intervention for posttraumatic stress and the development of posttraumatic growth. Studies report significant upturn in mood and increase of post-traumatic growth in participants, and less negative emotions related to the recall of the traumatic event. Through the process of collaborative reflection, this paper analyses if the positive effect of narrative writing as intervention for posttraumatic stress is experienced without a structured approach to the activity overseen by a mental health practitioner. This paper approaches narrative writing from the medical and humanities models, to illustrate the benefits of an interdisciplinary conversation and approach to it as intervention for posttraumatic stress