درمان شعر و عمل موجودیت

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how poetry and poetry therapy are useful tools in existentially oriented psychotherapeutic practice. This paper will accomplish this aim in several ways. First, a brief introduction to poetry therapy will be presented. Second, the main principles of existential therapy will be explored. Third, the congruence between poetry therapy and existential theory will be addressed. Fourth, exercises will be presented that can be used in existentially oriented practice. Lastly, a case example demonstrates the use of poetry and poetry therapy in existential psychotherapy. This article represents a departure from most scholarship on poetry therapy, the majority of which is rooted in psychoanalytically oriented traditions. It appears that the preponderance of theorists in the expressive arts therapies in general have been those influenced by psychoanalysis and modern psychoanalytic theory (Mazza, 1999). This is lamentable, since therapists, who practice from theoretical orientations not congruent with this approach, may not explore the uses of poetry and poetry therapy in their work. I contend that poetry and poetry therapy are congruent with many additional theoretical orientations. For the field of poetry therapy to progress, and expand its current boundaries, scholars must demonstrate its relevance to other theoretical and practice orientations. Previously, such work has been conducted with the strengths—perspective of social work treatment (Furman, Jackson, Downey, & Bender, 2002).

The preceding case example illustrates how poetry can be useful in helping people create meaning and value in their lives. Poetry therapy is an important expressive arts therapy congruent with many different theories and practice models. By demonstrating its use in existentially oriented practice, it is hoped that therapist who have not experimented with its varied uses will become interested in the use of poetry. For the existentially oriented practitioner, the use of poetry is an ideal tool for helping people come to terms with the realities of existence. It is my hope that practitioners working from various perspectives will explore the uses of poetry in practice, and will publish their results as a means of adding to the developing body of literature.