WHAT IS POETRY THERAPY?
I am a poetry therapist. Many people have not heard of that before. A short explanation: It is part of the creative arts therapies that encompass art, music, drama, psychodrama and dance therapy. But in poetry therapy, poems, or actually, any kind of writing, fiction, prose, non-fiction, and so forth, are used to explore our lives. The National Association of Poetry Therapy* (website) describes it this way: “Poetry therapy is the intentional use of the written and spoken word for healing and personal growth. Poetry, literature, journals and song lyrics help individuals see themselves fully, and in time they come to experience the hidden facets of themselves. The term “poetry therapy” is used inclusively to refer not only to the use of published and original poems but also the interactive use of literature (bibliotherapy) and therapeutic writing (journal therapy). Guided by a trained facilitator, poetry therapy participants respond emotionally to the literature’s evocation. The interact
