Poetry therapy

Poetry therapy uses poetry to improve mental health and promote healing. It improves the mental health of patients by allowing them to better process emotional experiences and teaching them to better communicate their emotions. Most poetry therapy is comprised of expressive, receptive, and symbolic phases.

Poetry therapy is practiced throughout the world and can be traced back to ancient times. However, it was not used in an organized medical setting until the eighteenth century. Poetry therapy is increasingly integrated with structured therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed care.

Overview 

Poetry therapy refers to the use of poetic or literary works to improve the mental health of patients. The belief that the written word can be utilized to improve mental health can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. Scholars believe that in the 1700s, doctors at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia employed methods similar to modern poetry therapy. In the nineteenth century, Dr. Benjamin Rush, known as the father of American psychiatry, utilized poetry in addition to other treatments to help improve the mental health of his patients. In the early twentieth century, the pharmacist Eli Greifer founded several poetry therapy groups at hospitals with the support of resident psychiatrists. Jack J. Leedy, a psychiatrist associated with Greifer’s poem-therapy groups, helped found the Association for Poetry Therapy (APT) in 1969. The APT would later reform itself into the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT).

After the foundation of the APT, the use of poetry therapy spread. Arlene Hynes, a librarian and pioneer of poetry therapy, was one of the first to open a formal training program for conducting poetry therapy. Hynes coauthored the influential publication Bibliotherapy – The Interactive Process: A Handbook, published in 1986.

Poetry therapy is thought to aid therapy patients in understanding their feelings and subconscious memories, which leads to a better understanding of how patients’ feelings relate to their daily lives. Poetry is believed to promote self-reflection, broaden perceptions, and improve group cohesiveness by promoting shared emotional experiences, validating emotional experiences, and providing a new means of expressing emotions. It may also help therapists or psychiatrists better understand their patients by giving them a new medium for communication.

Poetry therapy often begins with reading poetry. Poems selected by poetry therapists should deal with a universal emotion, utilize plain language, and convey a sense of hope. Individuals attending poetry therapy may also bring self-discovered poems to discuss with their poetry therapist.

A commonly used model of poetry therapy consists of three phases: expressive or creative, receptive or prescriptive, and symbolic or ceremonial. In the receptive phase, the poetry therapist introduces the patient to poetry designed to evoke powerful feelings. They often read these works to the patient, ensuring that the poem is delivered in an impactful manner. In the expressive phase, the patient is encouraged to interact with poetry on a more personal level. This may involve writing their own poetry, which is then analyzed by the poetry therapist, or dissecting existing poems. If the patient struggles with writing poetry, letter writing may be used as a substitute. In the symbolic phase, the creative use of metaphors and rituals is introduced. These allow individuals to better communicate their feelings, confront negativity, and promote change.

Bibliography

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“International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy.” International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy, ifbpt.org. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

Mayson, Trapeta B. “Poetry’s Healing Work.” Academy of American Poets, 1 Oct. 2022, poets.org/text/poetrys-healing-work. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

“Poetry Therapy: Benefits, Techniques & How It Works.” GoodTherapy, 11 May 2016, www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/poetry-therapy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

Villines, Zawn. “What is Poetry Therapy?” Medical News Today, 2 Nov. 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/poetry-therapy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

Watson, Jowan, et al. “Expressive Writing Interventions in Patients with Cancer: A Scoping Literature Review.” Palliative & Supportive Care, vol. 23, 21 July 2025, p. e132, doi:10.1017/S1478951525100394. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

Weisberger, Lila Lizabeth. “Opening the Door to Poetry Therapy.” Literary Kicks, 29 Apr. 2010, www.litkicks.com/OpeningTheDoorToPoetryTherapy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.