Donna's Blog: Writing to Heal
Exploring the Science of Emotion, Trauma, Health, and Healing
Thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web! I’m Donna Jackson Nakazawa, an award-winning science journalist and speaker passionate about exploring the intricate connections between neuroscience and human emotion. Over the years, my work has been dedicated to uncovering how our early life experiences shape our brains, bodies, and overall well-being. I’ve delved deep into the science of how trauma affects our health and how we can find pathways to healing.
I offer online courses that empower you to reframe your narratives and heal from past trauma through a powerful journaling process, based on the innovative, trauma-informed, mindful Neural Re-Narrating™ program I’ve taught at universities and behavioral health groups nationwide.
My newest book, The Adverse Childhood Experiences Guided Journal, a workbook that applies my writing-to-heal program through exercises and prompts, will give you the guidance and space to process painful thoughts, feelings and memories to bring you peace, healing, and hope.
Feel free to dig into my blog posts – past and present! If you find the information here insightful and valuable, I hope you will also join me on my Substack, Healing Together with Donna Jackson Nakazawa, where I aim to create a warm and welcoming space where we can further explore together the profound connections between our emotions, past experiences, and health. I will be sharing insights, stories, and science-based strategies, all grounded in the latest neuroscience research. For now, as I work on building an engaging and supportive community, all my articles and features will be FREE. I hope you’ll consider following and supporting my work as we build this meaningful space together.
My Online Courses
Your Healing Narrative
Write-to-Heal With Neural Re-NarratingTM
Breaking Free From Trauma
3-hour self-paced workshop
Available now!
Neuroscience-Based Writing Practices to Rewire Your Brain from Trauma
The trauma of your past can’t be undone, but you can take charge of how it affects you. This compassionate journal offers a safe space to help you process, heal, and reclaim your power.
Writing to Heal - Recent Blog Posts
- All Posts
- Angel and the Assassin
- Childhood Disrupted
- Chronic Illness
- holiday stress
- Neural Re-Narrating™️
- Subscribe
- The Adverse Childhood Experiences Guided Journal
- The Last Best Cure
- Unhealed trauma
- Writing to Heal
Moments of journeying, such as quiet reflection, a creative project, or a new place, can help you connect with your heart and foster growth and healing.
If you’ve found yourself staring at a blank page, feeling resistance rise, or putting off the writing altogether (even though you know how much it could help), you’re not alone. There’s a reason this happens.
Neuroscience shows that the brain is capable of change. Through certain intentional practices, you can rewire your mind, building new pathways that support calm, resilience, and connection.
The shift from summer into the school year is always a tender one. Long days of unstructured play and later bedtimes give way to early mornings, new classrooms, and fresh routines...
Social media is everywhere and for most teens, especially girls, it has become the backdrop of their entire adolescence. We often hear about the dangers of screen time or cyberbullying, but...
We’re only just beginning to understand how chronic stress affects female bodies and brains, especially during puberty. While depression affects many teens, girls are experiencing feelings of sadness and despair at significantly higher rates...
One of the most powerful protective factors in a child’s life is a strong, nurturing relationship with a caring adult. Research shows that the odds of a child flourishing are twelve times higher when they know they can turn to an adult with anything...
Studies show that adults who’ve recognized the effect of trauma in their own lives are calmer and more mindful in the face of children’s challenging behaviors...
