Although psychotherapy traditionally has been thought of as talking therapy, written communication can be used as an effective supplement, across a range of theoretical approaches and therapeutic stages. Writing can aid clients in deepening awareness and enable them to use their inherent resources for becoming whole persons. For example, one therapist found writing to be extremely effective in helping a patient to gain a sense of control over her life. The patient, troubled by indecisiveness about a career choice and clingy, jealous behavior with her boyfriend, found that her daily two-page journal assignments helped her both to face small issues as they arose and to control her over-expression when she was upset. In another case assigned writing was used with partial success with a couple whose marriage was disturbed by the wife's temper tantrums. Although the husband did not complete his assigned writings, the wife improved a great deal as a result of recording instances of her irrational behavior. Writing was also used as a successful adjunct to therapy with a family upset about the youngest child's leaving home. Although there are some possible disadvantages of writing (in some cases it may be alienating, and in other cases clients might verbalize ideas they do not want to put on paper), in general, the discriminate use of writing as an adjunct to face-to-face psychotherapy is helpful. (Nineteen references are appended.) (ARH)