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The idea that reading is therapeutic goes back many centuries. Over the entrance of the library in ancient Thebes was the inscription, "The Healing-Place of the Soul." The notion persists today, as we subscribe to the value of reading to children and the infirm. Many social workers, psychotherapists, and counselors share literature with their clients. The formal use of literature in clinical practice is known as bibliotherapy. Poetic therapy is a form of bibliotherapy in which the counselor uses poetry with their clients.


This site is dedicated to the idea that poems can be comforting, inspiring, or even empowering, and as such they can be therapeutic for readers. Our purpose is to spotlight individual poems that may be therapeutic for readers in certain circumstances. Contributors to the blog are not therapists themselves, but each writer offers a personal, heartfelt appreciation of the potential therapeutic value of a poem.

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"Explaining My Depression to My Mother: A Conversation" by Sabrina Benaim

by Kristen Landry Note: This post was written by a Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University student in the fall of 2017. Poetry is an expressive art that can be extremely therapeutic. This aspect is unique in that it is subject to the individual conception of the reader. One piece of writing may touch the depths of a soul while a different piece of writing may not be affected in the least. This aspect is the beauty of poetry. “ Explaining My Depression to My Mother: A Conversation ” by Sabrina Benaim reveals therapeutic qualities to those struggling with depression by being relatable, providing comfort, and strengthening self-image. Sabrina Benaim displays a beautiful vessel of encouragement and mental aid for someone suffering from depression. The poem, “ Explaining My Depression to My Mother: A Conversation ” is a therapeutic poem because it has a way of conveying empathy. Benaim writes as though she understands the mind of a depressed individual. Perhaps she ...
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Writers' Guidelines

Poems That Heal seeks brief, thoughtful essays examining the therapeutic value of individual poems. If you would like to write for us, please follow these guidelines: Each post should be in the 500-750-word range, approximately. Please focus on a single poem. Identify the poem by title and author. If possible, insert a link to the text of the poem. Take care to properly acknowledge sources of poems and any other materials. The poem should be previously published, and it should not have been written by the author of the post. In our best posts, the writers have a clear grasp of the uses and benefits of poetic therapy. Writers also have a clear grasp of terms such as inspiration and empowerment. It is up to the writer whether or not to discuss their own personal life. Doing so is neither required nor forbidden. In any case, it should be clear what kind of person the poem would be most therapeutic for. Please make an effort to craft a well organized blog post. It does not have t...
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"The Word" by Isaac Wimberly

Note: This post was written by K.F., a student at FranU, in 2018. Over 300 million people worldwide suffer with depression. That is enough people to fill up over 2,800 of the United States’ largest stadium. That is equal to almost half the population of the entire European continent.   It just so happens that I fall into that statistic. Depression is a monster, an infection, almost an addiction – it’s so powerful and overwhelming and no matter what I do, I just can’t shake it.   It has the ability to mask even the most beautiful souls. It projects lies to its victim in a way so endearing that it seems we have no choice but to believe them. Quite frankly, depression kills.   It is estimated that of those treated for depression, the death by suicide rate is twice as high as it is for those not diagnosed with depression.   Thankfully, I am now able to manage my depression through therapy; however, I know that not everyone has a success story. There is an available t...
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