Kay Adams and Deborah Ross reveal the magic of journaling, merging neuroscience and therapeutic writing. Through their profound insights, discover how reflective practices can foster self-awareness, harness neuroplasticity, and become powerful tools for manifesting a desired life.

In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.

“Another thing coaches may very well want to know about is that writing the journal can be an absolutely wonderful place for self-supervision.”

— Kay Adams

“[Journaling] is an owner’s manual. We don’t get that when we come into this world.”

— Deborah Ross

Kay Adams, LPC, is a best-selling author, speaker, psychotherapist, visionary and founder of the Center for Journal Therapy. Her first book, Journal to the Self (1990), is a classic best-seller that helped define the field of personal writing as a tool for healing, growth, and change. She has written 13 more books (and one card deck), and her innovative work has led to a movement in writing and healing.

In 2008 Kay founded the Therapeutic Writing Institute, a fully online professional development school to prepare and certify journal therapists and facilitators. Ten years later, she founded a second online school, Journalversity, offering evergreen and facilitated courses from leading experts in the expressive writing field.

Deborah Ross is a Certified Journal Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor in the Washington DC area. She retired from private-practice psychotherapy to focus on teaching journaling in meditation programs and health care settings including those that serve cancer patients and brain injury patients. She is a core faculty member at the Therapeutic Writing Institute, supervises trainees, and offers private instruction and custom writing workshops. Co-author with Kathleen Adams of Your Brain on Ink, Deborah is fascinated by the intersection of the modern findings in neuroscience and the ancient arts of contemplative practice and writing.

Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.

She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.

Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Mirasee
Dr. Irena O’Brien’s website: The Neuroscience School
Therapeutic Writing Institute: JournalTherapy.com
Deborah Ross’s website: DeborahRossLPC.com
Kay and Deborah’s book: Your Brain on Ink
Reference: Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything by James R. Doty, MD
Kate Thompson on self-supervision in the journal
Paper on The Journal Ladder

Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’Brien
Producer: Cynthia Lamb
Audio Editor: Marvin del Rosario
Executive Producer: Danny Iny
Music Soundscape: Chad Michael Snavely
Making our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio

Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker Smeaker
Artist: Avocado Junkie
Writer: Sander Kalmeijer
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: Coo Coos
Artist: Dresden, The Flamingo
Writer: Matthew Wigton
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: In This Light
Artist: Sounds Like Sander
Writer: Sander Kalmeijer
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Special effects credits:

24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.

To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM’s YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.

Episode transcript: The Power of Reflective Journals (Kay Adams & Deborah Ross).