Opening Up

Using original research, Dr. James Pennebaker presents astounding evidence for the health benefits of personal self-disclosure, offering sound advice on how each of us can confront and conquer buried turmoil and get on the road to good health.

Research findings on the medical benefits of writing or talking about trauma are interwoven with insightful case studies on secret-keeping, confession, and the hidden price of silence. Written for general readers, the book is also of value to practitioners and students. Therapists may wish to recommend it to clients, particularly survivors of trauma. The Guilford paperback edition includes new data, expanded chapter notes, and a separate reference section, all of which enhance its utility as a text.