Poetry Therapy - What is It?

Did you know that the unconscious can open when we write? Journaling, writing and reading poetry or just reflective writing about a specific problem can help the mind deal with its own issues and restore its balance. The inhibition of thoughts or feelings can hurt the biological body gradually, affecting the immunological system, the heart and vascular system, and even the biochemical stability of the brain and nervous system. The confession, through writing and speaking, is a form of therapeutic healing for the mind and for the body.

A more organized movement towards the use of writing as a therapy, especially poetry, began with groups like the National Association for Poetry Therapy and The National Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy. Today, there are specific certifications to become a Poetry Facilitator, a Certified Poetry Therapist of a Registered Poetry Therapist. There is also a specific scientific publication called The Journal of Poetry Therapy to provide accurate information to the professionals in the area.

However, as far back in history as Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, poetry was already referred as a pathway to liberate emotions and bring cure. Freud believed that the poets were the first ones to discover the unconscious. Recently, with the advance of scientific research, concrete findings have proved that writing can be a therapeutic tool in the treatment of conditions such as eating disorders, mental and emotional issues, stress related symptoms and even in chronic diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, migraines and asthma.

As easy as pulling a piece of paper and a pen, you could also benefit from the positive influences of writing. But writings should be free, liberating, as you feel, as you wish. Forget about the stressful school report, or the spelling check. Write for yourself. Write about you, about your feelings, about your fears. Use your words as you wish, as they come to your mind. Write poetry with your heart, as you breathe. Play with words. Believe that the focus is on you, not on the grammar. When your fingers write about your unconscious issues, your brain will acknowledge your problems and your heart will be able to lighten its burdens.

Remember, however, that you should always ask for help if the issues you are dealing with require medical or professional attention. Any therapeutic resource has its place in the treatment of a specific condition, and writing as a therapeutic tool, has as well a great importance but also its limitations.