Poetry and Story Therapy

Geri Giebel Chavis is a professor of English at St. Catherine University, Minnesota, a Licensed Psychologist in private practice, and a Certified Poetry Therapist and poetry therapy mentor/supervisor. She is a former Vice President of the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) and is an Editorial Board member of the Journal for Poetry Therapy. A few years ago, she was named honorary President of the newly-formed Irish Poetry Therapy Network. Geri resides in Edina, Minnesota.

Geri Chavis, long-time leader in the expressive art of poetry therapy, shares her collected wisdom and experience in Poetry and Story Therapy: The Healing Power of Creative Expression. This volume is a significant contribution to the growing literature about the expressive literary arts. A key feature of the book is the author's ability to discuss theory and research, historical antecedents for current poetry therapy, aid readers in exploration of the pros and cons of approaches and selections, and to describe examples and models for use by clinicians and other practitioners... Practitioners who use writing, literary sources, and metaphors in their therapeutic work have a new and wonderful volume to support and expand their efforts. Educators of and coaches for those wanting to learn about the expressive literary arts have a rich, stimulating resource for their efforts. Lovers of literature could pass over all the pages about poetry and story therapy and still get a book of value for the exceptional variety of quotes and references.

• Introduction: The Transformative Power of Word and Image. 1. Poems: Springboards to Growth and Healing. Poetry's Special Healing and Inspirational Role. Therapeutic Features of Poetry. Poetry Selection Process. Choosing Therapeutic Poems for Your Files. Selecting Poems for Specific Participants and Settings. Facilitating the Poetry Growth/Healing Experience. Steps in the Poetry Therapy Process. Setting the Tone/Warm Ups. Introducing the Poems. Beginning Discussion - Encouraging Personal Engagement with the Poem. Encouraging Exploration and Self-Application Through Discussion. Incorporating Writing Activities for Exploration and Self-Application. Providing Closure. Illustrating the Process - Two Vignettes. 3. Stories: Stimuli for Personal Development and Relationship Building. The Role and Personal Magic of Stories. Choosing Therapeutic Poems for Your Files. Basic Therapeutic Features of Stories. Fairy/Folk Tales, Fables, Myths and Childhood Storybook Tales. Literary Short Stories. Short-Short Stories or Sudden Fiction. Creative Non-Fiction Memoirs/Vignettes/Anecdotes. Selecting Stories for Specific Participants and Settings. Facilitating the Story Therapy/Growth Experience. Setting the Tone/Warm-Ups. Presenting the Story. Beginning Discussion/Encouraging Personal Engagement with the Story. Inviting Exploration and Application to Self. Creative Writing Techniques in Response to Stories. Providing Closure. 4. Creative Writing for Life Enhancement. The Power of Self-Expression. Setting the Atmosphere for Writing. The Therapeutic Process of Telling Our Stories. Developing Our Personal Waking and Dream Metaphors/Symbols. Word Play and Creating with Linguistic Structures. Creatively Working with Objects. Nature Writing and Healing. Writing to Visual Stimuli. Writing in Response to Film. Melding Art, Music and Movement with Creative Expression. The Power of the Group Poem. 5. Concluding Remarks. Appendix I: Selected Resources. Poetry Anthologies. Story Anthologies. Anthologies with Both Poems and Short Stories. Film Resources. Recommended Websites. Appendix II: Feedback and Report Forms.