A visitor yesterday who is sure to become a regular member of one of my writer workshops is an artist (lovely nature paitings), the author of a charming little book about how caterpillars change into butterflies.  She is now working on a college degree that will authorize her to set up her own practice to deal with drug addicts and others whose lives have been filled with so much trauma that they are unable to function in regular society.  Besides her counseling words and her ever-open ear,  she uses art and WRITING as therapy tools.  

Of course I will learn more as I hear more of her writing, but what delights me most is that she feels getting people to record  their ideas, pain, and histories on paper is the very best therapy.  

Although I grew up in a loving, supportive houshold, I went through a period with a very ill husband (then we called it :Maqnic Depression") when my ONLY solace was writing.  Until new writer/friend/therpist and I talked yesterday about the values of "writing it down. . ." I had fogotten that during husband's long periods of depression and occupying the room where my typewriter and writing tools were located, I wrote and wrote.  I still have "pages" of my writing that were inscribed on paper shopping bags because I could not get to my writing tools.

More on the above another time.  Until tomorrow, Willma