Take Control of Your Emotional & Mental Wellbeing Today
‘Poetry is medicine for the broken spirit – possessing the power to heal minds, hearts and souls.’
-Kyli Santiago – Poet, Emotional & Mental Health Advocate
The Healing Power of Poetry Initiative aims to raise awareness about the healing and uplifting power of poetry by shining a light on its unique ability to positively influence and counterbalance negative aspects of the human experience. We strive to equip, embolden, and encourage everyone who visits our site with the tools, knowledge, and understanding to begin using the healing power of poetry proactively in their lives.
We’re an online resource that provides access to a network of existing foundations, organizations, community groups, practitioners, and initiatives, all in support of poetry and poetry therapy. We also supply access to articles, poetry prompts, and a starter guide on ‘how to write poetry for healing,’ ensuring you have the tools necessary to immediately begin using this powerful art form as a method of therapeutic release and healing to improve your quality of life.
today's growing emotional & mental health crisis
Healing Power of Poetry Initiative was founded in direct response to the growing emotional wellbeing and mental health crisis that is overwhelming our society today.
Today’s society is more social than it has ever been. And given this ultra-social climate, individuals have become more sensitive to criticism, negative energy, and the everyday pressures of life. There has been a staggering increase in reports of people suffering from emotional and mental health problems. Depression and anxiety, in particular, have become especially prevalent. Â
In addition, the ongoing pandemic has forced us to stay inside more often, significantly disrupting our way of life and altering our usual busy, hustle-and-bustle lifestyles. As a result, we’ve become more isolated, creating feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and a sense of disconnection. The need for coping mechanisms to combat these negative feelings and conditions has become imperative.
Fortunately, there’s a solution…
today's growing emotional & mental health crisis
Healing Power of Poetry Initiative was founded in direct response to the growing emotional and mental health crisis that is overwhelming our society today.
Today’s society is more social than it has ever been. And given this ultra-social climate, individuals have become more sensitive to criticism, negative energy, and the everyday pressures of life. There has been a staggering increase in reports of people suffering from emotional and mental health problems. Depression and anxiety, in particular, have become especially prevalent. Â
In addition, the ongoing pandemic has forced us to stay inside more often, significantly disrupting our way of life and altering our usual busy, hustle-and-bustle lifestyles. As a result, we’ve become more isolated, creating feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and a sense of disconnection. The need for coping mechanisms to combat these negative feelings and conditions has become imperative.
Fortunately, there’s a solution…
Discover the healing power of poetry
Poetry and poetry therapy is an expressive art form that uses poems, song lyrics, imagery, metaphor, and story to promote personal growth, healing, and increased self-awareness. It is an excellent healing tool that is easily accessible to anyone, anywhere, at any time, in any situation.
Whether read, written or spoken, poetic verse offers us the opportunity to take a moment, reflect, and feel our experiences. By applying simple techniques and creating space and time to make poetry a frequent practice, it can be an innovative method of healing and self-discovery. Here are 4 simple ways you can use to begin practicing poetry for healing in your life today:
Read
Reading poetry is highly therapeutic. It allows you to experience a range of emotions and identify with others. Reading words from others, you can relate to can be empowering and soothing. Reading your own verse can be validating and transformative.
Write
Writing verse is one of the most powerful forms of poetry therapy. It possesses the distinct characteristic of being able to tap into the recesses of the mind and release repressed emotion. Keep in mind that you must physically write your verse using pencil and paper to gain maximum benefit.
Sing
Singing is where poetry and music therapy intersect. It deepens the emotional content of poetry and is proven to reduce stress and increase confidence. By combining music and poetry, singing creates space for greater self-expression.
Recite
Reciting poetry is an incredibly effective tool for healing. Whether standing or sitting, reciting a poem written by you or someone else on stage or in private is a powerful self-esteem builder. It enables you to access your senses and emotions while fully present in your voice & body.
Whichever method of poetry therapy you choose to engage in, it is essential to develop the habit of accessing genuine and honest emotions. This is the secret ingredient that allows real healing to occur. And it is key to achieving optimal results in your practice of poetry for healing.
Emotional & Mental benefits of poetry
There are many proven benefits that practicing poetry – through reading, writing, singing, and reciting – offers those who’ve endured hardship, painful experiences, emotional trauma, and mental health issues. The following is just a short list of the powerful, positive life-changing effects poetry can have on our emotional & mental wellbeing.
Poetry has The Power To:
- Promote the expression of feelings
- Reduce symptoms of depression
- Enhance self-esteem
- Manage trauma
- Validate experiences
- Help process negative emotions
- Reframe traumatic events
- Develop & improve social skills
improve your wellbeing using the
Healing Power of Poetry
improve your wellbeing using the Healing Power of Poetry
Exercise Poetry as Self-Care & Prevention
With simple practices and techniques, poetry can be used as a form of self-care to transform your negative experiences into opportunities for growth, self-advocacy, and empowerment.
No one’s life is perfect. We all endure stress. Maintaining balanced emotional and mental health is all about practice and prevention. We all have the power to help ourselves before things get too bad. Simple self-care techniques applying verse will help you cope and rise to the challenge when facing the day-to-day stresses of life that no one can avoid.
Making poetry a common practice in your life can also help you monitor and better manage your responses to daily triggers and past traumas that you’ve encountered through reflection and improved self-awareness.
Simply put, poetry puts you in touch with yourself. It keeps you in tune with your thoughts, feelings, and true intentions. Putting you in complete control of your well-being and your responses to life.
Exercise Poetry as Self-Care & Prevention
With simple practices and techniques, poetry can be used as a form of self-care to transform your negative experiences into opportunities for growth, self-advocacy, and empowerment.
No one’s life is perfect. We all endure stress. Maintaining balanced emotional and mental health is all about practice and prevention. We all have the power to help ourselves before things get too bad. Simple self-care techniques applying verse will help you cope and rise to the challenge when facing the day-to-day stresses of life that no one can avoid.
Making poetry a common practice in your life can also help you monitor and better manage your responses to daily triggers and past traumas that you’ve encountered through reflection and improved self-awareness.
Simply put, poetry puts you in touch with yourself. It keeps you in tune with your thoughts, feelings, and true intentions. Putting you in complete control of your well-being and your responses to life.
READ. WRITE. SING. RECITE.
TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE
Whatever your journey, history, or current circumstances, we encourage you to read, write, sing, or recite poetry daily or as often as necessary. And experience the healing and transformative power of poetry for yourself!
READ. WRITE.
SING. RECITE.
TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE
Whatever your journey, history, or current circumstances, we encourage you to read, write, sing, or recite poetry daily or as often as necessary. And experience the healing and transformative power of poetry for yourself!
