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Cynthia Gustavson will teach us how to use poetry in therapy
Cynthia Gustavson
Written by Cynthia Gustavson, ACSW, LCSW
If you see teenagers, I guarantee that many of them are writing poems to cope with their complicated lives. Some volunteer their poetry, and some need to be asked about it. But then, what do you do with these intimate glimpses of insight?
If you see children, you might be using art therapy, or play therapy. But children also respond well to simple poetry, and the characters portrayed in them. It’s easier to talk about the person (or animate animal) in a poem, than to talk about oneself.
Anyone going through grief will tell you how difficult it is to express the depth of one’s feelings. It is quite common to resort to writing a poem, using metaphor, to approximate what is going on internally.
Using poetry in therapy is as old as poetry itself. It has always been used to explain the unexplainable. On December 3rd, I will introduce you to poetry that is accessible to you and your clients, teach you how to use it for both diagnosis and treatment, and give you a chance to try it yourself.
Cynthia Gustavson will present, “In-Versing Your Client’s Lives: The Use of Poetry in Therapy,” to close out Brookhaven’s Professional Seminar Series for 2014. Call 918.625.5188 to reserve your spot for Wednesday, December 3rd, 11:15 am-1:00 pm.
