Skip to main content
Log in

Contributions of a poetry writing group to the treatment of severely disturbed psychiatric inpatients

  • Articles
  • Published:
Clinical Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Red violet in the neighbor house. Poster paints climbing the chromatic scale. G. H.

Abstract

A poetry writing group in a Veterans Administration Hospital had unexpected advantages for the treatment of patients. As an elective group that de-emphasized the discussion of emotions and concentrated instead on technique and writing of poems, it attracted a variety of patients. Some were initially too disorganized to participate effectively in other treatment groups on the ward, but were able to behave in a more organized way in this group. Their writing allowed staff to see treatment possibilities that were otherwise obscured by the patient's withdrawn or confused presentation on the unit.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams, A. (1978). Poetry therapy in the psychiatric hospital. In A. Lerner (Ed.),Poetry in the therapeutic experience. New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgar, K., Hazeley, M. & Levit, H. (1969). Poetry therapy with hospitalized schizophrenics. In J. J. Leedy (Ed.),Poetry Therapy. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch, K. (1977).I never told anybody: Teaching poetry writing in a nursing home, New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D. (1978). Poetry therapy with psychotic patients.Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 9, 135–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pietropinto, A. (1975). Poetry therapy in groups. In: J. Masserman (Ed.)Current psychiatric therapies 15, 221–32. New York: Grune and Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winnicott, D. W. (1971).Playing and reality. London: Tavistock Publications.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Houlding, S., Holland, P. Contributions of a poetry writing group to the treatment of severely disturbed psychiatric inpatients. Clin Soc Work J 16, 194–200 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754450

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754450

Keywords

Navigation