This document discusses the therapeutic uses of poetry in bibliotherapy and groups. It explains that poetry can heal the heart and soul through its chanting, songs, and rhythms. Groups that use poetry for bibliotherapy allow self-expression without grades or criticism. The emotion captured in a group's poem provides comfort by showing shared experiences. Poetry's rhythm and repetition can help move participants between feelings and tap into the unconscious mind. The form of poetry used in bibliotherapy is unconstrained to naturally impose shape from one's mind. Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is often used to focus on continuing one's journey despite hardships.

1. Therapeutic uses of
poetry
Bibliotherapy

2. Bibliotherapy
The chant/song/poem is what heals the
heart and soul.
psychology - psyche meaning soul and
logos speech or word.
bibliotherapy -literally means the use of
literature to serve or help.

3. Freud
“Not I, but the poet discovered the
unconscious.”
Another time he said, “The mind is a
poetry-making organ.”

4. Groups
have never written a poem
they do not have to write, they need only
join in the discussion when they are ready
there are no grades, no editing, no
criticism.
self-expression and exploration.

5. “isoprinciple
emotion of the poem is what captures the
mood of the group.
very comforting, the participant sees they
are not the only ones who suffer, that
someone understands them because they
have experienced it and written about it.
They can share in their despair (Leedy,
1985).

6. Rhythm
does not have to rhyme but must have some
rhythm.
A change in rhythm can move a participant from
one place to another, or help them be aware of
the feelings that are causing pain or fatigue or
withdrawal.
Repetitionof sounds that has its hypnotic quality
that helps create “the secret place,” the bridge to
the unconscious,from which the poem springs

7. Form
No constraints.
We can impose shape and form naturally
with the workings of our mind and the
natural rhythms and images that come
forth.
Rules fly out the window.

8. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy
Evening.”- Robert Frost
Often used in poetry for healing, focusing
on the intent to keep going with the
journey, no matter how rough it gets, how
cold the weather, or how enticing the
moment of wanting to linger in the woods,
“lovely, dark and deep”.