Poetry Therapy: A Vehicle of Expression and Healing
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Authors
Naguiat, Patricia
Issue Date
2025-06-04
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
poetry therapy , poetry , liberation psychology , expressive arts counselling , anti-oppressive , trauma-informed
Alternative Title
Abstract
Poetry therapy is an expressive arts-based intervention that utilizes the power of words, metaphor, and narrative to foster healing, growth, and connection (Mazza, 2022). As an alternative to traditional talk-therapy, poetry therapy integrates elements from various evidence-based frameworks, offering an inclusive and accessible approach to mental health treatment. This paper explores the efficacy of poetry therapy across diverse populations and presenting issues, examining prominent models of poetry therapy and the application in the field. Through an analysis of peer-reviewed literature, this work highlights the psychological and emotional benefits of poetry therapy, including its impact on trauma, emotional regulation, self-expression, and social connection (Alfrey et al., 2021). Poetry therapy can work with symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and schizophrenia, highlighting its role in enhancing resilience and well-being (Akhan et al., 2022; Park et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2023). Furthermore, the paper showcases the adaptability of poetry therapy in both the context of sessions and its ability to deliver treatment in person, virtual, individual or groups. Despite growing evidence supporting its effectiveness, poetry therapy remains under-researched compared to other more traditional therapies. This paper advocates for additional research to establish long-term outcomes and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of poetry, further contributing to the increasing interest in creative arts therapies and alternative methods of healing.
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Citation
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License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess