Diploma
in Creative Therapeutic Journaling
(Dip. C.T.J.)    
A distance learning creative writing course

   College accreditation: International Association for Distance Learning.
   Course accredited by Institute for Meridian Psychotherapy
    for professional development purposes  

Total recommended period of study: approx. 2 to 4 months or less. Continuous enrolment. No time limit.

Cost: £250.00  (250 Pounds Sterling - for currency conversion see www.xe.com )

Two FREE textbooks will be sent to UK students. Non-UK students will normally have to purchase the books on-line from an internet bookstore.

Method of study 

Textbook study. Written assignments based on textbooks and exercises. Assignment questions are issued by email and students return their written work by email. Grades and feedback are issued by email.

Course overview

This is a Diploma course in the art of journaling (personal creative writing) for the purposes of self-exploration, self-growth, self-expression and/or self-therapy.  The course may be taken for self-development or by counsellors, psychotherapists and helping professionals who would like an additional tool for assisting clients, particularly those recovering from trauma.

The course may also help people thinking of writing their memoirs, life story or autobiography.

The course is in two parts.  Part One introduces the student to the art of self-expression through writing through a set of warm-up lessons with illustrative essays.  The lessons concern the emotions evoked by starting to write, handling memories, the process of allowing the writing to flow and fitting writing into your life, as well as about strategies to get you started, keep you writing, and use time, further reflection and editing skills to hone what you have written.  

Part Two looks at how various writers have used poetry, prose and memoirs to tell their stories, and gives further instructions and exercises for creating your own work. Topics used as writing examples and/or stimuli include relationships, stages of life, childhood, trauma, illness, disability, caring, bereavement, and spirituality.

This course is the first of a series of creative writing courses we hope to offer. 

Entry criteria and suitability 

No particular qualifications are required for entry. 

Course textbooks (free to UK students):

Killick, John and Schneider, Myra. Writing Your Self: Transforming Personal Material.  London and New York: Continuum, 2010.

Weldon, Michele. Writing to Save Your Life: How To Honor Your Story Through Journaling. Hazelden, 2001. 

Qualification

Successful graduates will receive the Diploma in Creative Therapeutic Journaling awarded by UK College of Holistic Training which is a private UK qualification. The college is accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning. Course graduates may use the postnominal initials Dip. C.T.J.

The course is accredited by The Institute for Meridian Psychotherapy (which is linked to UKCHT) for professional development purposes (see societies page for explanation).

If you have other relevant qualifications in counselling you may also be recommended to apply for the appropriate grade of membership of the National Counselling Society (UK).  The National Counselling Society http://www.nationalcounsellingsociety.org/  will consider a wide variety of qualifications towards entry levels of membership and will advise on further study towards becoming an Accredited Counsellor.

This diploma is accepted by Calamus International University (a non-UK, private distance university with private accreditation) for credit towards a degree.

Further information

Please see our FAQs page for general information about practising counselling and psychotherapy in the UK and elsewhere.

We reserve the right to change the syllabus and other details of any course at any time.

To apply for this course now, go to our Application page

Other books of interest (UK links):