At Compass Rose Academy, writing is a central part of the comprehensive educational program offered through our on-site private admission public Junior – Senior High School. But it’s also key in many of our students’ therapeutic care plans. We encourage the creative process of composition, the discovery of self-expression and even the performance of the spoken word as a means of connecting emotionally and exploring the root of behaviors and family conflicts.

Much like other creative arts, writing is an expressive process that not only channels a teen’s energy, but can also help vent frustrations, explore to difficult emotions and communicate grief, anxiety and other feelings. Many young people also experience spiritual discovery through writing. Some teens may connect with Christ during daily journaling, while others may be inspired to write poetry, stories or even screenplays.

One good way to connect to Christ spiritually through writing is to share a personal testimony, or to write about your own faith journey.

To start, simply tell what your life was like before you became a Christian. What was the key problem, emotion, situation or attitude you were dealing with? What motivated you? What were your actions? How did you try to satisfy your inner needs, like loneliness or insecurity? Did you become a workaholic, or struggle with drug or alcohol abuse? Honestly and openly describe yourself, and your circumstances before God was in your life.

Next, continue to tell your story by writing about your conversion. Describe the events and circumstances that caused you to consider Christ as the solution to your searching. Take time to identify the steps that brought you to the point of trusting Christ. Where were you? What was happening at the time? What people or problems influenced your decision?

Finally, share how Christ has made a difference in your life. How has his forgiveness impacted you? How have your thoughts, attitudes and emotions changed?

If you don’t have a testimony to share, there are many other ways to worship through writing. Mock correspondence is a wonderful way to share daily prayers and affirmations directly with God. Pretend you are writing a letter to the Lord – describe your hopes and fears, talk about your missteps and give thanks for the blessings in your life. Or, consider writing regularly in a prayer diary. Both tools provide a great way to organize your thoughts, take stock of all there is to be thankful for, and give perspective to life’s shortcomings.

To learn more about how writing can help your teen recover, and connect spiritually through writing, visit www.compassroseacademy.org.