Abstract
This article deals with the dynamics of poetry as an effective ancillary tool in clinical practice in dealing with individuals psychologically. In the hands of the professional clinician, poetry may be used efficaciously as a sharp, probing psychodiagnostic tool to assess patient malfunctioning, personality evaluation, and behavioral manifestations. Poetry therapy delineates the awareness of underlying tension and anxiety, and offers psychological release to hasten the healing process toward greater overall maturity, by revealing the individuality of the person. As a therapeutic process it helps the psychologist to recognize in the patient those attributes within the self that form the personality in action. The service function of poetry in a therapeutic format is stressed, with poetry utilized well in relation to sociological functioning of the individual as a distinct aspect of educational, psychological, and habilitation programs. The article considers background material and conceptualizations from the fields of behavioral sciences, literature, philosophy, and the discipline of psychological services.