Journaling has shown to be one of the best exercises to assign counseling clients between sessions. The problem arises when clients struggle to complete homework — sending them off-track in their mental health journey. This means they don’t progress as quickly or efficiently as they could if they kept up with assignments. One of the main goals of counseling is to equip patients with the tools to feel better sooner. Homework is one way to set clients up for success with healthy routines and keep a record that you and your client can refer back to if mental health conditions change.
The benefits of assigning journaling homework to counseling clients
Journaling is one of the most effective and simplest exercises to assign to counselling clients. Its accessibility makes it a no-brainer. All patients need is a pen and paper, or a computer if they prefer, to get their thoughts out and enjoy the benefits. And, different styles of journaling can yield different results. For example, studies have shown that gratitude journaling can help people sleep better, lower stress, improve interpersonal relationships, and can even lead to healthier eating.
Most importantly, homework like journaling teaches clients that they can apply their newfound skills independently. It equips them with the confidence that they don’t need to rely on a counselor between sessions when something goes wrong — they can reach for pen and paper.
How to assign homework for better success
Studies have shown that assigning homework is linked to better treatment outcomes. So how can you ensure your clients complete their journaling homework? Simply knowing the benefits usually isn’t enough to keep them on top of it. The best way is to present homework in a way that clients are used to – such as right on their own personal devices. Take advantage of technology with a digital homework app. An all-in-one app like Therachat comes with a whole host of features that simplify your practice while benefiting your clients.
Clients can easily access:
- Daily homework reminders
- Skill-building activities
- Emotion tracking
- Mindfulness exercises
For counselors, a digital homework app allows you to:
- Save time and help even more clients. Create and customize digital activities that can be assigned to multiple clients
- Follow up with clients through an easy-to-use instant messenger that’s safe, private, and more convenient than texting with your personal number
- Track and look back on client progress — showing them how far they’ve come
- Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with added security benefits such as HIPAA compliance
- Forget about filing and managing physical paper documents
Ensure clients complete journaling homework regularly
Journaling homework comes with a whole host of positive benefits — but clients can only take advantage of those benefits by actually completing homework. A digital homework app is one of the most efficient ways to ensure clients are growing between sessions. Are you ready to simplify and modernize your practice? Learn more about Therachat for clinicians.