Barcelona Journaling Festival

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The first edition of Barcelona Journaling Festival is a transformative event dedicated to mental health and self-care through the power of expressive writing.

This unique gathering offers a variety of expert-led talks and hands-on workshops designed to help attendees explore journaling as a tool for mindfulness, emotional well-being, and personal growth.

The list of international speakers includes some of the world-renowned journaling experts such as Kathleen Adams—the best-selling author of 14 books on the theory & practice of therapeutic writing, speaker, psychotherapist and founder of The Center For Journal Therapy (USA). 

From guided journaling sessions to creative self-expression techniques, the festival empowers individuals to cultivate self-awareness, reduce stress, and develop positive habits. Whether you're new to journaling or a seasoned writer, this event provides valuable tools for personal healing and self-discovery.

Workshops Include:

• The Therapeutic Writing Toolbox: Tools and Techniques for Deep Healing and Self-Reflection
• Stressbusting: Writing Through Troubled Times
• Journaling for Writers and Writer Wannabes: mental tricks for productivity and unleashing your creative power
• The Joy of Writing Things Down: Learn to Find Where Words Hide in Daily Life
• Writing Through The Wisdom Of The Trees: Journaling With & About Nature
• Journaling for small businesses: clarity & progress
• Motherhood & Words: releasing the tension & finding the resource to go on
• Embody your Essence: A Reflective Journey to Inner Brilliance, Confidence and Meaning

It's a special and intimate weekend of healing writing with the world's most important guided journaling coaches

The BCN Journaling Festival offers an opportunity to learn from fantastic teachers through hands-on workshops, with a focus on application. This is not about listening to dry lectures on the theory of journaling—you’re here to write and to put into practice tools that can help you develop yourself, to help you become more aware, and to help you use these tools with others.

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Special Guests

Coming from all over the world to the first international journaling event in Barcelona, include:

Marusha Mozolevskaya (Spain, Russia)

Marusha says: "In the era when everyone is scrolling and texting, allow yourself to slow down and find out who are you, really, between the lines."

Creator of the Girls Who Write platform and Naked Words journaling course, Marusha has supported women in their writing journeys for over a decade. She's the author of Not Just a Mom, a memoir-based self-help book for every creative woman with kids, which explores the superpowers of journaling in daily life.

Venus O'Hara (UK, Spain)

Venus says: "Infuse your journaling practice with sexual energy to create a powerful manifestation tool."

Venus is a British expert in female sexuality, she has written for El País, GQ and The Guardian. She shares her insights through her YouTube channel and her popular podcast The Orgasmic Lifestyle. She has published four books, including the fresh-out-of-the-printers Orgasmic Manifestation. Her unique approach combines scientific insights with holistic practices—and journaling, of course—making her a sought-after speaker and educator in the field of sexual wellness.

Kathleen Adams  (USA)

Best-selling author of 14 books on the theory & practice of therapeutic writing, speaker, psychotherapist and founder of The Center For Journal Therapy (USA). Kay’s most famous books are Journal to the Self and Expressive Writing: Foundations of Practice.

Emelie Hill Dittmer (Sweeden)

Emelie says: "Writing reflectively and with a healing purpose is about witnessing a primordial power that emerges from the raw, unpolished voice."

Member of the International Association for Journal Writing Council, therapeutic writing educator, journalist, and author of the Swedish guidebook Write to Heal—A Guide to Reflective Writing. Emelie is currently working on her second guidebook titled The Therapeutic Writing Toolbox and Writing Therapist Training Program in Sweden.

Megan C Hayes (UK)

Megan says: "Put wellbeing into words!"

Founder of The Joyful School of Writing and Positive Journal, Megan C Hayes PhD is one of the top researchers in positive journaling and has spent over a decade studying writing, the psychology of happiness, and researching ways that writing makes us happier. Megan has written four books: Write Yourself Happy, The Happiness Passport, The Serenity Passport and The Joy of Writing Things Down.

Jackee Holder (UK)

Jackee says: "Writing changes lives and lives are changed by writing."

Author of 49 Ways to Write Yourself Well, Writing With Fabulous Trees, Soul Pourpose and Be Your Own Best Life Coach, Jackee is a trauma-informed well being and resilience coach & creativity expert working across a range of sectors. She's also a founder of Paper Therapy, an online creative journal writing class.

Jon Sayers (UK)

Jon says: "Pick up your pencil and let's turn lead into gold."

Jon has written his way through his professional life as a published poet, radio playwright and advertising copywriter. He is a certified Journal to the Self facilitator with the Therapeutic Writing Institute and also works as a transformational coach, specializing in creativity and writing.

Ana Juma (Portugal)

Ana says: "When it comes to journaling, there’s no wrong, only write."

Ana Juma is the founder of Prophsee, an independent publishing house that brings together creative minds to express themselves through writing experiences. She has experienced the benefits of journaling firsthand and is now committed to sparking the renaissance of flipping through the pages in a world where everyone is scrolling.

Oliver Mann (UK, Spain)

Oliver says: "If we can't face the shadow inside, we can't face the light outside."

Oliver relied on journaling to transform his trauma into strength and to move from victim to survivor. He now helps other men use words to build self-awareness, empathy and ultimately to heal through Unleash Your Ink and Men Who Write projects.

Marisè Barreiro (Spain)

Marisè says: "Powerful forces are at play when we search for the words that match our experience."

Philologist, writer and Gestalt therapist specializing in expressive writing, Marisè became a co-author of the book The Teacher's Journal (together with Kathleen Adams) and participated in the pioneering anthology Expressive Writing: Classroom and Community. She teaches therapeutic writing courses for different social and professional groups in Spain.

Alsu Kashapova (Spain)

Alsu says: “Leadership begins with self-awareness—daily contemplation on your commitments, values, and strengths unlocks a purposeful life.”

Alsu Kashapova is a leadership transformational poach and TEDx speaker. She integrates her leadership experience as a tech executive with methods like compassionate inquiry of Gabor Mate, breathwork, RTT and hypnotherapy. Alsu extensively uses journaling tools to assist her clients in the transformational process and career growth while living joyfully and meaningfully.

This Festival is powered by Barcelona-based Girls Who Write, Naked Words, Unleash Your Ink & International Writers Of Barcelona. 

For more events, check our online events calendar.