When I first launched The Intuitive Writing Project in 2013, all I knew was how important writing had been for me . Today, after twelve years and over 3,500 hours of class-time, I can say with 100% certainty that writing is the most effective, the most cathartic, the most clarifying, and also the most joyful way to build self-confidence and self-awareness in teenage girls.   Here are three reasons why I believe writing is the antidote   to everything  teenage girls are str

By Elizabeth Perlman, first published on April 12, 2023 “When people say to me, ‘What should I tell my daughter?’ I always say, ‘The most important thing is to listen. This is how she learns she has something to say.’” — Gloria Steinem As we continue to unpack the recent   Youth Risk Behavior Survey  from the CDC, evidence that “America’s teen girls are engulfed in a growing wave of sadness, violence and trauma,” I believe the most meaningful thing we can do is to continue th

By Elizabeth Perlman, first published January 23, 2023 "Unlike the competition and criticism most kids experience at school, The Intuitive Writing Project offers a world of radical acceptance and emotional support.” At the Intuitive Writing Project, our programs are grounded in The Amherst Writing Method , a transformative writing philosophy created thirty years ago by the visionary teacher, Pat Schneider. The focus is on strength-building, ensuring that every individual is d

*The word "girls" is intended to include all gender-expansive youth By Elizabeth Perlman, first published on October 20, 2022 "You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody." — Maya Angelo Michelle Obama once said, “Your success will be determined by your confidence.” The trick, of course, is  how to build confidence— what I call  intrinsic confidence —especially in girls. To quickly define my terms, the word  intrinsic refers to our essential nature. The word  e