How Does It Work?

  1. Please read the section on Confidentiality & Security first as well
    as the Terms & Conditions

  2. Choose the package that suits you best. The options are:

    1. A single entry and single response
    2. Four entries in a period of one month
    3. Six entries in a period of one month
    4. A weekly entry for a period of two months
    5. A weekly entry for a period of six months
    6. A weekly entry subscription

  3. Make your payment via PayPal (the company which specialises in safe and secure internet payments).

  4. Once you have subscribed, an email will be sent to you within 24 hours to confirm your subscription. This confirmation email also includes a list of questions that you should please take the time to answer. This information will help me to provide you with meaningful responses to your journal entries.

  5. Type up your journal entry in either the email body or add it as an attachment in any Microsoft Office format. What you type is completely up to you – tell me about yourself, your day, your concerns, your ideals or dreams. You can also use one of the journaling topics or reflect on one of the quotes available on this site.

  6. Send your email to the address provided after the payment has been made. I (please read below for more information on who I am) will then read your journal entry and, with help from the information provided by your initial email, provide feedback to you concerning your journal entry.

  7. The feedback on your journal entries is not intended as advice, but as open-minded, non-judgmental commentary on what you wrote , the point of which is to provide you with new insights from an objective source, a fresh point of view and further food for thought. The ultimate goal of the process is to enhance self-development and self-knowledge.

  8. It is very important to note that The Talking Journal is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please see Terms & Conditions for more detail.

  9. I will then email you my response back by either continuing the comment on the email body, or by adding to the Microsoft Office document which you attached in your first email.

    Please note that due to our security measures (which help to keep our communications confidential), sending aesthetically attractive emails is currently not possible. While we value security above aesthetics, we do understand the value of the "feel" of the emails and will continue to make improvements to the look and feel of our emails.

Who am I?


My name is Marianne Gush. I am registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a psychological counsellor. I follow a mostly humanistic approach and have a special interest in self-actualisation (to fulfil one’s potential / to become more and more of what one is) and self-development.