Lynda Monk
Lynda Monk, MSW, RSW, CPCC, is the Director of the International Association for Journal Writing. She is a Registered Social Worker and a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach. She has a speciality in therapeutic journaling for self-care, burnout prevention, personal growth, and resilience.
Lynda is co-editor, along with Eric Maisel, of two recent books including…
She is the co-author of Writing Alone Together: Journalling in a Circle of Women for Creativity, Compassion and Connection, as well as co-author of the international bestseller Inspiration for a Woman’s Soul: Choosing Happiness. She is the author of an e-book called Life Source Writing: A Reflective Journaling Practice for Self-Discovery, Self-Care, Wellness and Creativity, and producer of the Creative Wellness Guided Meditations CD. She is currently writing Surrender: An Adoptee’s Memoir.
Lynda is an experienced facilitator and coach, and has supported thousands of people to go to the page and write for well-being, self-expression and personal growth. She has authored many in-person courses, workshops and writing retreats, as well as many online course offerings including Pen to Paper: Journaling for Self-Care & Wellness through the University of British Columbia and Dalhousie University. Her signature 6-week online group coaching, The Transformational Writing for Wellness Salon is available through the IAJW.org.
As leader of the IAJW, she is committed to growing a vibrant learning and inspirational community for journal writers worldwide. Lynda lives with her husband, Peter, their two sons, Jackson and Jesse, and their beloved Sadie girl (a Golden Retriever) on Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada, where she tries her best to write every day.
Eric Maisel, Ph.D.
Eric Maisel, Ph.D., is the author of more than fifty books, among them Overcoming Your Difficult Family, The Future of Mental Health, Rethinking Depression, Life Purpose Boot Camp, The Van Gogh Blues, Mastering Creative Anxiety, Why Smart People Hurt, Coaching the Artist Within, Ten Zen Seconds, Humane Helping, A Writer’s San Francisco and A Writer’s Paris.
A retired family therapist, active life coach and creativity coach, and mental health advocate in the areas of critical psychology and critical psychiatry, Dr. Maisel writes the Rethinking Mental Health blog for Psychology Today, lectures nationally and internationally, facilitates deep writing workshops in locations like San Francisco, New York, London, Paris, and Rome, and presents keynote addresses for organizations as diverse as the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry and the International Association of Pastel Societies.
This is a brand new program and does not have testimonials yet; however, here is what some of Lynda & Eric's participants in other courses and programs have to say about learning from them...
“Eric Maisel is an inspired coach and teacher. He is extremely knowledgeable and shares his knowledge generously in a focused and practical way. I’ve just completed another training with him and as always, I am amazed not only at how much I’ve learned for use with my own clients and students, but how expansive my own writing and creative process have become!” — Susan Borkin
“It is always a joy to learn with Lynda Monk. She is flawless in her facilitation. Lynda's training sessions consistently result in glowing feedback and always leave the participants stronger and wiser for having spent the time with her.” — Kim Dooling
“I have learned more by participating in this advanced training than I have in many of my graduate classes. Eric Maisel is supportive and insightful, and the training provides material and exercises that are both practical and thought-provoking. I was able to learn and communicate by email with so many interesting and supportive people who broadened my perspective on creativity and what it means to live a creative life. I highly recommend the training to all artists and those interested in creativity coaching as a profession.” — Mandi Batolo
“I release myself from any past mistakes! When I say this I feel a space opening up inside me. I feel lighter. I look forward to filling this airy space with joy and love – not the dread, guilt, shame that used to inhabit this space. What a wonderful feeling! The journal writing I have done in this salon – the weekly exercises, writing prompts and feedback from Lynda – all together helped me see and feel this transformation and I am so grateful.” — Susan MacLaughlin
"Lynda Monk is a wise, patient, entertaining, and articulate speaker. She speaks from her heart with clarity and easily illuminates philosophical concepts into practical messages that her audience can relate to and be inspired by." — Elizabeth Bishop
“The advanced training was rich in practical gifts, full of hands-on learning, creative assignments and great insights. Eric has a great way of making it all challenging and interesting. Working with clients as the weeks progressed and using what was appropriate or interesting for them made a great learning circle for everyone. This was a fabulous opportunity for me to enhance my coaching skills and learn practical new tips for my clients. I learned so much more about coaching and, as a bonus, about my own creative process. The training was rewarding as all of Eric’s training programs have been. Thank you, Eric!” — Pamela Yates
“I was in that perfect place to step into change, and this Transformational Writing for Wellness Salon created a very safe space to begin to explore exactly what I needed. I was a give-go-give junkie, and this journaling made me slow down and think in a profound way. The specific tools gave a structure to journaling that I had not used in a mindful way before. Reflecting really was where I was able to go deep. I will continue to use this and share it with my coaching clients. This is soooooo powerful. Listening to others share and reflect was also very inspiring for me. Lynda, thank you for doing what you do in your work and for offering this. It’s transformative.“ — Jennifer Wallace
“Lynda is a passionate and engaged speaker and her workshop was very well-received by our participants. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, with participants commenting on Lynda’s dynamic presentation skills, the quality of the resources, and the usefulness of the skills and strategies discussed.” — Kerry Watts
