Gillie Bolton has worked in reflective and therapeutic writing for personal and professional development for twenty-five years, and has written and edited five books, one of which is now in its third edition. A grandmother of three, she lives in Bloomsbury, London, and Hope Valley, Derbyshire.

In her latest book, Write Yourself, Bolton offers ways into expressive writing, information on writing with specific groups, and detailed advice on how to facilitate writing groups. It is a handbook for anyone interested in the field of creative writing and personal development, which Bolton believes should be an "open and less rule bound field". Nurses, doctors, therapists and social workers are named as potentially "excellent facilitators". It is this feeling of generosity and inclusiveness which infuses the book and Bolton's work.

• Preface. Introduction. 1. Write Yourself. 2. Writing to Help Find Yourself. 3. Writing with Anxious or Depressed People. 4. Creative Writing within Counselling and Therapy. 5. Writing with the Very Sick. 6. Writing with Children. 7. Writing to Help with Substance Abuse. 8. Reflective Writing for Professional Development. 9. How to Run a Group. 10. Residential Writing Retreats. 11. Writing Poetry. 12. The Power of Reading. 13. Dialogue with a Poetry Therapist. Appendices.

Gillie Bolton has worked in reflective and therapeutic writing for personal and professional development for twenty-five years, and has written and edited five books, one of which is now in its third edition. A grandmother of three, she lives in Bloomsbury, London, and Hope Valley, Derbyshire.

In her latest book, Write Yourself, Bolton offers ways into expressive writing, information on writing with specific groups, and detailed advice on how to facilitate writing groups. It is a handbook for anyone interested in the field of creative writing and personal development, which Bolton believes should be an "open and less rule bound field". Nurses, doctors, therapists and social workers are named as potentially "excellent facilitators". It is this feeling of generosity and inclusiveness which infuses the book and Bolton's work.

• Preface. Introduction. 1. Write Yourself. 2. Writing to Help Find Yourself. 3. Writing with Anxious or Depressed People. 4. Creative Writing within Counselling and Therapy. 5. Writing with the Very Sick. 6. Writing with Children. 7. Writing to Help with Substance Abuse. 8. Reflective Writing for Professional Development. 9. How to Run a Group. 10. Residential Writing Retreats. 11. Writing Poetry. 12. The Power of Reading. 13. Dialogue with a Poetry Therapist. Appendices.

Gillie Bolton has worked in reflective and therapeutic writing for personal and professional development for twenty-five years, and has written and edited five books, one of which is now in its third edition. A grandmother of three, she lives in Bloomsbury, London, and Hope Valley, Derbyshire.

In her latest book, Write Yourself, Bolton offers ways into expressive writing, information on writing with specific groups, and detailed advice on how to facilitate writing groups. It is a handbook for anyone interested in the field of creative writing and personal development, which Bolton believes should be an "open and less rule bound field". Nurses, doctors, therapists and social workers are named as potentially "excellent facilitators". It is this feeling of generosity and inclusiveness which infuses the book and Bolton's work.

• Preface. Introduction. 1. Write Yourself. 2. Writing to Help Find Yourself. 3. Writing with Anxious or Depressed People. 4. Creative Writing within Counselling and Therapy. 5. Writing with the Very Sick. 6. Writing with Children. 7. Writing to Help with Substance Abuse. 8. Reflective Writing for Professional Development. 9. How to Run a Group. 10. Residential Writing Retreats. 11. Writing Poetry. 12. The Power of Reading. 13. Dialogue with a Poetry Therapist. Appendices.