Heeling Power of words-Poetry Therapy as an example

Healing Power of Words
Poetry Therapy as an Example
A Critical Overview
History of Poetry Therapy
Poetry therapy may be traced back to the ancient societies which chanted poems for the well-being of the individual or the tribe. The first Poetry Therapist was Soranus, who was a Roman physician, in the first century A.D.He prescribed comedy and tragedy to his patients.
In the United States the application of poetry therapy dated back to the 18th century in Pennsylvania Hospital founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1751. The hospital used reading, wriing and publishing of mental patients writings as ancillary treatments for the patients. Patients’ writings were published in their own newspaper, The Illuminator.
Before 1960s, the term bibliotherapy which created by Samuel Crothers in 1916 was used to refer to this modality. Only in 1960s and 1970s, the term poetic therapy became popular.Contibutions of prominent figures to the poetry therapy such as Dr.Leedy led to establishing of Association for Poetry Therapy (APT). In 1981, Association for Poetry Therapy became National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) which set the professional requirements and standard s of the profession. (www.poetry therapy.org/articles/pt.htm).
Definition of Poetry Therapy
Poetry therapy, synonomously called bibliotherapy, is the intentional use of poetry and other forms of literature for healing and personal growth. It is an interdisciplinary psychotherapy. So poetry therapist is a professional who is well-grounded in psychology, poetry and groups dynamic. Poetry therapy can be viewed as an interactive process with three important components: the literature, the trained facilitator and the client(s).
Poetry therapist must be aware of the fact that poetry focus for healing is the dynamic growth and self-expression of the individual while poetry focus as art is the poem itself. Both of them use the same techniques and tools such as rhythm, language, metaphor, image and sound. (www.spcsb.org/advoc/poetrytx.html.
There are two forms of poetry therapy. The first one is the developmental interactive poetry therapy, which is the use of poems, discussion and creative writing with children in schools and hospitals, adults in growth and support groups and older persons in nursing homes and seniors centers. Poetry therapy in these settings and communities is used not only to foster growth and development but also as a preventive tool in mental health. The second form of poetry therapy is called clinical poetry y therapy. It is the use of poems, discussion and creative writing to promote growth and health in community mental health centers, psychiatric units and chemical dependency units. Therapeutic experiences may involve one on one relationship, couple, family or group process. (www.nacta.com/poetry.html.
The essence of poetry therapy is derived from the concept of catharsis which created by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle defined catharsis as the purging of spirit of morbid and base ideas or emotions by witnessing the playing out of such emotions or ideas on stage. (Casey, 2001). In poetry therapy the safety and support of therapeutic environment culminate in cathartic experiences for the members of the group through the release of the emotions. So the awareness of repressed emotions, feelings and experiences into consciousness allows for ego integration and expansion
Goals of Poetry Therapy
The goals of poetry therapy can be summarized as follows:
1-Developning of accuracy and understanding in perceiving self as well as other2-Developing of creativity, greater self-esteem and self expression.3-Strengethening of both communication and interpersonal skills.4-Ventillation of overpowering emotions.5-Releasing of tension.6-Increasing of adaptive functions and coping skills.7-Helping clients to find out a new meaning of life through new insights, information and new ideas. (www.nacata.com/poetry.
Sessions and Techniques of Poetry Therapy
A-Reading Session:
Each session the facilitator is supposed to create a non-threatening environment where the group members feel safe so as to share feelings openly and honestly. Then a catalyst poem is presented by the facilitator who presents a reason for why the poem is chosen. Sometime the facilitator let someone to read the poem of the day. After that the facilitator let the group discuss and decide if has something to do with the poem. Frequently the poem is read many times of one or two members of the group so that the music, rhyme and semantics of the poem will enter members’ minds to help them focus in order to replace the chaos of thought. (www.spcsb.org/advoc/poetrytx.html.
The selection of the catalyst poem is based on isoprinciple which means that the poem’s emotions can capture the group mood. Such a principle allows the members to know that other people understand them because they have the same experience. That leads the members to realize that they are not the only who have such pain. That will lead them to recognize the universality of their pain (Yalom, 1975). The facilitator must avoid poems which do not instill hope in the group members. Also the facilitator chooses poems in which the metaphoric content integrates images consistently and clearly.
After the selection the interactive process begins. It has four stages:
1-Recognition is the stage in which group members have to be able to recognize and identify with the selected poem. 2-Exploration is the stage in which the group members explore, with the assistance of the facilitator, specific details about their reactions.3-Juxtaposition is the stage that explores the significant interplay between comparisons and contrasts. Then the group members start looking at the experience from a directly opposite point of view. Such a view can provide an awareness that may become the basis for wise choices in attitude and behavior.4- Application to Self is the last stage. The client has to make the connection between the individual and the selected poem. Then he or she has to apply the new knowledge to her or his own self in the real world. At the end of the session the poetry therapist provides closure to deal with unfinished work and help the group members to integrate what has been learned. (www.ncata.com/poetry.html.
B-Writing Session
Poetry therapy considers creative writing of the members as another avenue towards self –discovery by using journal writing, mutual storytelling and song lyrics writing. (www.users.erols.com/sreiter/testimony.html. It is important to inform the group members, at the beginning of the session, that this session is not a class in school and there is no grade, no editing, unless the participants want to edit their own writings. So the goal of the session is self-expansion and exploration of the participants. (www.spcsb.org/advoc/poetrytx.html.
Writing can benefit the elderly. Life review and reminiscence is an effective technique to help them. It is achieved by a person who writes her or his own autobiography using memoirs, albums, interviews and letters so as to gather and integrate the life experience of a person into a meaningful whole. Telling one’s story through different expressions of the written words is a vital aspect in the therapeutic process. That will lead to a self-affirming process, followed by self-awareness and new insights. (www.users.erols.com/sreiter/testimony.html.
Poetry Therapy: A Critical Overview
1-Positives
Poetry enables people to discuss issues which are considered taboo such as loneliness, mortality and loss. The universal component of the poetry therapy help participants connect with others who are in the same boat. Poetry has many layers which let participants feel free to express themselves without being judged. (www.users.erols.com/sreiter/testimony.html.
2-Negatives
Poetry therapy can not be applied to certain populations. Some children do not have a sufficient ability to express themselves verbally. Sometimes adults use words to intellectualize and distance from their emotional problems. Other therapies such as art therapy enable the client to break through those barriers and express themselves by using different art materials (painting, clay, drawing ….etc). Through artwork the client can approach the hard and difficult issues in a way which is much safer and cleaner comparing with poetry therapy.
Use of words only, sometime is very boring. Dramatization and applying of multi-media can help reduce that boringness. Also a storytelling can be combined with art activities (e.g. collage from magazines headlines and photos to illustrate story events, draw event pictures) and drama (enacting a trial for the story characters and role playing).
References
1-Casey.A, spring 2001, Psychodrama: Applied role theory in psychotherapeutic
interventions, Journal of heart centered therapies. .
2-Yalom, I. D. (1975).The theory and practice of group psychotherapy 2nd
(edition), NY: Basic Books.
3-www.ncata.com/poetry.html
4-www.poetry therapy.org/articles/pt.html
5-www.spcsb.org/advoc/poetrytx.html
6-www.users.erols.com/sreiter/testimony.html











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شكرا جزيلا ايها الصديق المبدع اسامة البحث ممتع للغاية كنا نسمع عن استخدام الموسيقي مثلا للعلاج النفسي لكن هذه هي المرة الاولي التي نقرأ فيها عن استخدام الشعر، واعتقد اننا جميعا بصورة او باخري في حاجة لننتبه للطاقة العظيمة الموجودة في الشعر والتي ربما ستكون مفيدة لو استخدمت في مثل مجتمعاتنا بحسبان اتاحته مناقشة موضوعات تكاد تكون محرمة وكذلك فتح الفضاء الداخلي للنص كسقف لافكار كل الحاضرين ما يجعلهم يشعرون انهم في مركب واحد.
وحتي يتحقق استخدامنا للشعر كعلاج نفسي يبقي الفكي بعصاه التي يستخدمها في ضرب الشيطان افضل شعرائنا المحليين

you are right ,Ahmed. i sent u the PowerPoitnt show, i hope u can open it.
enjoy
almashaa