poetryPoetry Therapy

Poetry therapy promotes personal growth and healing through language, symbol and story. Not all poems can be used for therapeutic purposes.

Among the many classic and contemporary poems that can be used for therapeutic and/or educational purposes, examples include: The Guest House, Rumi; The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost, The Journey, Mary Oliver and Talking to Grief, Denise Levertov.

Debbie, a Certified Applied Poetry Facilitator, completed the 440-hour training program through the National Association of Poetry Therapy in 2007. Her work in poetry therapy has focused on writing, facilitating workshops and retreats, and teaching poetry in the schools.

Debbie's favorite poets: Rumi, Dorianne Laux, Naomi Shihab Nye, Mary Oliver, Perie Longo, David Watts, Cortney Davis, Lucille Clifton, Pablo Neruda. Denise Levertov, to name a few.

Websites of Interest

  • The National Association of Poetry Therapy www.poetrytherapy.org

  • Academy of American Poets www.poets.org

  • Poetry Foundation www.poetryfoundation.org

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Testimonials

"My favorite part of the retreat was the process of self-discovery and the ability to feel free from judgment to have some much needed questions answered." NA

Publications

  • “Poetry Therapy: A Healing Art,” appears in Wellness and Writing Connections. Idyll Arbor Press. Enumclaw, Washington. To request a copy, email info@dmcculliss.com.

  • "Poetry for Healing" appears in the library of the International Association of Journal Writers, The International Association for Journal Writing

  • "Poetry Goes Public: Poetry-in Motion® and Poetry While You Wait,” 2009. Statement. The Journal of the Colorado Language Arts Society. pp. 12-13. Peer-reviewed feature article. “Shouting Using Only Silence,” The Museletter, November 2006. National Association of Poetry Therapy. pp. 6-7.

 
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