Spotlight on Poetry Therapy

A week or so ago, I wrote an essay for a college application that involved designing my own interdisciplinary college course. I decided that the best approach was to try to fuse two of my passions, and so I settled on a class focused on the relationship between poetry and psychology. As I was investigating the overlap between the two subjects, I stumbled across the field of poetry therapy. You may be skeptical at this point, and truthfully, I wouldn't blame you. At first it sounded like a bit of a hoax to me too. But as I researched the topic further, it amazed me just how defined the field has become.

Essentially, poetry therapy refers to a process by which a client's psychological health is improved through the reading and/or writing of poetry. A certified poetry therapist encourages this emotional growth and healing by selecting specific poems to focus on and creating an environment in which patients feel comfortable opening up and expressing themselves. A more in-depth overview of poetry therapy can be found here.

On poetrytherapy.org, I learned about the history of the field. To my surprise, I discovered that the roots of poetry therapy date back to primitive societies. Some ancient cultures featured shamans or witchdoctors who recited poetry, as this was thought to have a positive effect on the people's spirits. Another interesting anecdote is that Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the United States, encouraged patients to write and publish poetry as a form of treatment.

Though poetry therapy isn't especially widely known yet, recently, several important steps have been made toward legitimizing the field of poetry therapy. The National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) was established in 1981, and it now sponsors an official publication, the Journal of Poetry Therapy. Poetry therapy also has defined objectives, which I found on this website.

The goals are as follows:

1. To develop accuracy and understanding in perceiving self and others

2. To develop creativity, self-expression, and greater self-esteem

3. To strengthen interpersonal skills and communication skills

4. To ventilate overpowering emotions and release tension

5. To find new meaning through new ideas, insights, and information

6. To promote change and increase coping skills and adaptive functions

Upon doing further research, I discovered real-life examples of people who put poetry therapy to use for the purpose of attaining these goals. This article describes a New Jersey Hospital that supports the use of poetry therapy for medical patients. Patients at University Hospital in Newark are encouraged to read poems related to their struggles and even write original poetry. I also came across the article "Opening the Door to Poetry Therapy" by a pioneer in poetry therapy. I'd highly recommend reading it; not only does it offer firsthand knowledge regarding the evolution of the field, but it's incredibly eloquently written. My favorite part is a quote by poet Stanley Kunitz that the author ends with: "Through the years I have found this gift of poetry to be life-sustaining, life-enhancing, and absolutely unpredictable. Does one live for the sake of poetry? No, the reverse is true: poetry is for the sake of life."

This quote especially resonates with me because I've always used poetry as a coping mechanism in my own life, but I wasn't aware of the extent to which this was true for others. Now I feel validated in my belief in the healing power of poetry, and I hope that you all also have the opportunity to experience this spiritual renewal and recovery. As a side note, I'm encouraged by the fact that therapy is becoming a more flexible term. Since I've been involved in several types of therapy and counseling throughout my life, I'm fascinated by new developments in the field.

While reflecting on poetry therapy, I couldn't help but be reminded of Azar Nafisi and Reading Lolita in Tehran. Just as literature is a therapeutic tool for the persecuted women of Iran, poetry can provide healing and growth for those who seek it.