Author

Jinjin Melany Heger
Centro Escolar University
Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8118-6522
Email: melanyrpsy@gmail.com

Abstract

This preliminary pilot study explored whether archetype-based writing prompts could enhance emotional engagement in therapeutic writing among Filipino adults. Ten participants (five with an anxiety diagnosis, five without) completed both neutral and archetype prompts in two successive psychotherapy sessions using a within-subjects, mixed design. Emotional engagement was operationalized through emotional word use and total word count. Manual count of emotional words was conducted by guided by established definitions. Results showed that archetype writing prompts led participants to produce longer, more elaborated texts. This indicates indicating greater cognitive and reflective engagement. However, emotional word use did not significantly differ between archetype and neutral prompts. Notably, participants maintained an average rate of emotional word use consistent with levels identified as adequate in prior expressive writing research. This suggests that archetype prompts can be sufficiently effective in eliciting meaningful emotional expression. Patterns were consistent across diagnostic groups, indicating similar engagement among participants with and without anxiety. Overall, the findings suggest that using archetype-based prompts encourages emotional involvement in therapeutic writing and may be suitable for use in psychotherapy.

Keywords: Archetype writing, therapeutic writing, emotional engagement, anxiety, expressive writing, Filipino participants.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0501875

Recommended citation:
Heger, J. M. (2026). Exploring archetype writing prompts and anxiety diagnosis as factors influencing emotional word use and word count in therapeutic writing among Filipinos: A preliminary pilot study. Pantao (The International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 5 (1), 9841-9855. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0501875

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