Poetry Therapy:

Catalyst for Change

PRESENTERS:

Susan Reuling Furness, M.Ed., LCPC, LMFT, PTR

Monique Barber, MS, LPC, NCC

President, Idaho Association for Spiritual,

Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling

(IDASERVIC)

ABSTRACT:

Join this workshop to recharge your creative juices. As counselors, we rely on our imagination to see what is possible . . . the potential the client cannot see. An experience with poetry therapy will help unlock your essential creative thinking and inspire hope and healing for your clients.

SUMMARY:

A poem “begins in delight and ends in wisdom” -Robert Frost Poetry Therapy is a one of the lesser-known children in a family of expressive therapies. You may know Art Therapy or Music, Dance, and Drama Therapy. For those who love language, Poetry Therapy is the darling of the expressive family. Poetry Therapy employs poems and literature to promote personal growth and healing. The arts and medicine have been entwined from the beginning of civilization. Today we continue to recognize how art, music, and poetry transform us. The symbolism, imagery, and sentiment of a poem evoke emotions. We may recognize the poet’s courage and resilience or relate to the tragedy and grief in a poem. After reading a poem and discussing it, members of a Poetry Therapy group write personal reflections in their journal. A good Poetry Therapy selection helps a person find their way to solutions and hope. You do not need to be a “poet” to benefit from Poetry Therapy. Poetry Therapy applauds your thoughts and feelings, even if you simply make a list. Whatever you write becomes your voice and your poem.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Participants will discover the three reasons why journal writing promotes creativity, healing, and wellness.

2. Participants will write one short remembrance highlighting a personal creative experience.

3. Participants will engage in word-play activities to promote a trust in "first thoughts" which will enhance confidence in the classroom and therapy sessions.