CEUs: 2

Instructor: David Thoele

Illness and the health care system create significant stress for patients, families, and health care providers (HCPs). Writing about traumatic experiences has been shown to provide significant health benefits. However, most HCPs and patients do not use writing as a healing tool, and time and resources are limited. We developed a simple 3-minute writing exercise and have used this tool with patients, families, and HCPs in everyday clinical practice to foster a team approach to illness that facilitates healing. In this presentation/interactive workshop, we will discuss the health benefits of creative writing and how this tool can encompass important Jung principles and enhance spirituality. Participants will have an opportunity to practice this writing exercise, gaining proficiency so they can use it as a therapeutic tool. Participants will share their writing, and brainstorm ways this technique might transform their own clinical practices.

About the Instructor
David G. Thoele is Co-Director of Narrative Medicine (NM) at ACH in Chicago. His creative essays are featured in Pulse, Hektoen International and Physicians Practice. He has led and participated in workshops at The Examined Life Conference. He is also a pediatric cardiologist at ACH.

He learned a new perspective when his daughter got sick and he experienced the medical system from a parent’s point of view. He created and co-directs the NM group at ACH, which includes members of all departments at ACH. The group meets monthly, using writing, music, meditation and relaxation exercises to promote healing. He is currently the Principle Investigator of “Effectiveness of a writing tool to reduce perceived stress in a clinical setting: A pilot study,” an IRB project involving inpatients and outpatients.