Poetry Therapy in a Parenting Group for Recovering Addicts

Abstract

This article describes a parenting group for recovering addicts in which poetry, journal keeping and creative writing are instrumental in the group process. Creative writing is used as a means of setting a therapeutic environment and establishing a working alliance within the group. The creation of collaborative poems is also discussed as a means to reinforce concepts learned about the parent-child relationship. Journal keeping and group letters are presented as tools for the enhancement of communication skills that are taught in the group. The article includes examples of poems and letlers, and describes various techniques employed in the creation of these works.