What do we know about expressive writing interventions in helping professions? A focused bibliometric review

Expressive writing is widely studied as a psychological intervention supporting emotional processing and well-being, but research involving helping professionals remains limited. This bibliometric study traces the development of scientific production in this area and maps its conceptual structure. A Scopus search identified 167 records, of which 20 documents published between 2009 and 2026 were retained after a PRISMA-based screening. The analysis reveals a small, recently expanding field, with continuous annual publication only since 2021 and output concentrated among a few authors, research groups, journals, and countries, particularly Italy. Its conceptual structure centers on emotional processing and psychological and occupational adjustment, linking burnout, compassion fatigue, coping, job satisfaction, and well-being across palliative care, intensive care, and pandemic-related healthcare contexts. Overall, the field remains context-bound and unevenly developed, highlighting the need for stronger methodological consistency, broader professional and cultural representation, and greater attention to organizational conditions, implementation, and cross-context comparability.