Poetry writing as a healing method in coping with a special needs child: A narrative perspective

Abstract

The focus of this article is on the role poetry writing plays in helping those bereaved or depressed to cope with their emotions. Through a therapeutic process of applying her thoughts to writing poetry, the author, mother of a special needs child, expresses herself and the trauma of her experience. The writer utilizes free verse to allow thoughts to freely form on the page instead of forcing them into a tightly constructed form that might hinder the therapeutic writing process.

Keywords:

• Poetry
• self-esteem
• special needs child
• therapeutic
• writing