What is poetry therapy?
Where does poetry therapy come from?
The origins of modern poetry therapy lie in America in the 1970s. Jack Leedy (psychiatrist) and Arthur Lerner (poet and psychologist) are considered its founding fathers. In Germany, integrative poetry and bibliotherapy was founded and established by Prof. Hilarion Petzold, Ilse Orth and Prof. Johanna Sieper.
In 1980, The National Association for Poetry Therapy was formed – a community of writers, poets, educators, health professionals, journalists and word lovers that connects people worldwide (Petzold, Leeser, Klempnauer 2018, 69).
History of Poetry Therapy
Even in ancient times, people knew about the healing power of language. In libraries, people found knowledge, but also peace and healing. Even today, bookstores and libraries all over the world still have this calming effect on us.
Exciting: The Library of Alexandria, which was founded at the beginning of the 3rd century BC, was called the Healing Place of the Soul (Engelhardt 1982). There are many other examples of language being one of the oldest healing media. In ancient Rome, so-called consolation literature (by Seneca or Cicero) was used as a life aid, and in the Middle Ages, formulas, curses and blessings were more powerful than herbs and stones. In 1803, the German physician and founder of psychiatry, Johann Christian Reil , pointed out that language and writing stimulate imagination and creativity and lead to activity and meaning.
To read more...
When language heals – Handbook for poetry and bibliotherapy, biography work and creative writing by Petzold, Hilarion G.; Leeser, Brigitte; Klempnauer, Elisabeth (ed.), Aisthesis Verlag, 2018
Poetry and Therapy – about the healing power of language by Petzold, Hilarion G.; Orth, Ilse (eds.), Aisthesis Verlag, 2018
Expressive Writing – Words that heal by Pennbaker, James W.; Evans, John F., 2014
German-speaking Society for Poetry and Bibliotherapy, Creative Writing and Biography Work eV www.dgpb.org
* modern treatment methods that take into account body, mind and emotions, as well as social and ecological factors in the treatment
"I don't think I'm just writing..."
