Poetry therapy techniques applied to a recreation/adult education group for the mentally ill

Abstract

This article describes how poetry therapy principles and techniques, such as the isoprinciple and the collaborative poem, are applicable to adult education for the mentally ill. The author describes how these techniques were applied during a semester-long writing workshop conducted at a day-treatment programme for mentally ill adults. Samples of student-generated poems are included.

Keywords:

• Adult Education
• Collaborative Poem
• Hope
• Isoprinciple
• Letter Poem
• Poetry Therapy