Sherry Reiter

Poetry Therapy: Testimony on Capitol Hill

This report on poetry therapy was originally submitted to the National Coalition of Arts Therapies (NCATA) for testimony on Capitol Hill. The report presents an overview of the field of poetry therapy.

Building resilience in the face of loss and irrelevance: Poetic methods for personal and professional transformation

The focus of this article is on the use of poetic intervention using expressive writing to build resilience for trauma, loss, and feelings of irrelevance. Information on the issue of resilience based originally on a case study in which transformation was made possible through the intervention of a caring coach who facilitated poetic expression is provided. Several techniques of writing and prescription poetry are presented by the authors to renew creative energy and fuel new growth for a more optimistic future both personally and vocationally. Five phases of work are hypothesized with particular poems suggested for each phase: (i) goals, (ii) courage training and instillation of hope, (iii) concrete planning phase, (iv) implementation, and (v) sustaining and maintaining goals.

Poets-behind-bars: A creative “righting” project for prisoners and poetry therapists-in-training

Poets-Behind-Bars is an unique long-distance writing program created for prisoners of Indiana State Prison (maximum security), in which 12 poetry therapy trainees of The Creative Righting Center became mentors to 12 poets-behind-bars. Inmates participated in a research study to assess changes in personal growth, emotional balance, and increased self-expression over a period of a year and a half, during which they completed 18 assignments. This project has a dual purpose: (1) to enhance the personal growth and emotional balance of inmates through literature and writing, and (2) to enhance the skills of poetry therapy trainees.

The Wizard of Oz in the Land of the Id: A Bibliotherapy Approach

This essay provides a perspective on the use of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a bibliotherapeutic tool in group therapy. An example of theme extraction in a session is provided. Philosophical and theoretical issues are briefly considered.

The National Association for Poetry Therapy 30th anniversary celebration: Voices and visions

A convocation of voices is assembled in this article, chronicling the development of the National Association for Poetry Therapy as the creative arts organization that represents those who apply poetic literature for artistic expression, personal growth, and therapeutic purposes.