Does a practitioner in the field of poetry therapy have to be a poet?
A trained practitioner of poetry therapy recognizes the poetic ability in all people. Many of us become interested in this field because of our personal experience with writing and reading as growth-promoting or healing forces. Others may not consider themselves to be poets but rather people with a poet’s vision — an ability to appreciate metaphor and other expressive, symbolic language. It is not necessary to be a poet in order to be a practitioner of poetry therapy, but it is essential to be a reader, to have a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for the interactive wonder of words.
