Writing as Medicine: A Science-Based Approach to Emotional Healing

This Valentine's season, give yourself the gift of healing through words. Join us for an evidence-based expressive writing workshop that combines neuroscience with heart-centered practice to help you process difficult experiences and cultivate deeper self-compassion.

Research shows that expressive writing physically changes your brain. When we write about emotional experiences, we activate the prefrontal cortex—the reasoning part of our brain—which helps regulate the amygdala's stress response. Studies demonstrate that just 15-20 minutes of expressive writing over several days can improve immune function, reduce anxiety and depression, and promote emotional healing.

Using the Pennebaker method of therapeutic writing, you'll learn a powerful self-help tool you can use again and again. This gentle, structured approach helps you explore difficult experiences safely while building resilience and self-understanding. We'll practice trauma-informed techniques that honor your boundaries and empower you to choose what you're ready to explore.

Leave with a practical toolkit for ongoing self-care: simple writing exercises that transform pain into insight, shame into self-acceptance, and inner criticism into compassion. This workshop isn't just about healing old wounds—it's about falling in love with your own story and the person you're becoming.

No previous writing experience necessary. All you need is an open heart. ✨

📍Event Details

Sunday, February 1, 2026 · 2 - 4 pm

$25.

Additional Details:

Limited to 15. Registration required. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event.

The registration fee is non-refundable unless the event is canceled by the facilitator.

Parking Information

Shakti in the Mountains Website

✨ Led by Sarah Long

Sarah Long is a Professor of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication at Appalachian State University, where she has taught for over a decade. Her scholarly work bridges technical communication, environmental rhetoric, and narrative medicine, with a particular focus on trauma-informed pedagogy and therapeutic writing practices. Sarah is certified in SEEN Through Story facilitation methodology and integrates evidence-based expressive writing techniques into her teaching and community work. Her forthcoming memoir, Uprooted: A Memoir of Belonging and Becoming (Regal House Press, 2026), was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and explores themes of adoption, belonging and becoming. Sarah brings both scholarly rigor and lived experience to her work helping others discover the transformative power of writing.

Learn more about Sarah: Website