Narrative Therapy offers a unique approach to understanding and reshaping the stories we tell about ourselves and influencing the stories others tell about us. One of the lesser-discussed but profoundly impactful tools in Narrative Therapy is poetry. Poetry—with its playful and poignant use of rhythm, metaphor, structure, and language—provides a powerful avenue for self-expression, reflection, and transformation. Let’s explore how poetry intertwines with Narrative Therapy to foster healing and growth.
Poetry as a Mirror for Personal Stories
Narrative Therapy emphasizes externalizing problems and seeing life as a series of evolving stories. Imagine you have a textbook in front of you, and there’s a bit of information you need to remember for a class or a quiz. People will often highlight, underline, or circle text as a way of helping themselves remember important information. We do much the same with the stories we tell ourselves and others, using our inborn abilities for attention, cognition, memory, and communication. We pick out events, people, and places of significance and weave them into the stories we remember, share, and emphasize. Neuroscience tells us that these processes help shape who we are - our identities, how we make and derive meaning from the world, and the relationships we pursue with other beings and the world around us.
Poetry complements this process by offering a compact, symbolic way to capture the essence of our experiences. The act of writing or reading poetry allows individuals to articulate feelings and events that may be too overwhelming or complex to express in traditional dialogue. It also enables us to access the creative parts of our psyche. By mirroring our internal world, poetry helps us see our experiences from a fresh perspective, often uncovering hidden strengths and alternative storylines.
Externalizing Problems Through Metaphor
Metaphor is a cornerstone of both poetry and Narrative Therapy. In Narrative Therapy, externalizing problems—separating them from the self—is a key intervention. Poetry naturally lends itself to this process. For instance, a client struggling with anxiety might write a poem describing their anxiety as a stormy sea or a tangle of yarn. This metaphorical language allows them to view their struggle as separate from their identity, creating space for dialogue and problem-solving.
Poetry as a Collaborative Tool
In Narrative Therapy, collaboration between therapist and client is essential. Poetry can serve as a co-creative medium where both parties contribute to the poem. A therapist might invite a client to write a poem about their journey or collaboratively construct a piece that reimagines a challenging life event. This shared act of creation fosters a sense of partnership and reinforces the client’s agency in shaping their story.
For therapists who are not so inclined toward poetry themselves, the act of listening to a client’s poem is a sacred invitation to treat with dignity and honor. Sharing poetry can trigger a variety of feelings and sensations - from excitement and pride to embarrassment and imposter syndrome. Clients and therapists can work collaboratively to identify how physical and psychological feelings arise and morph throughout the creative and sharing process.
Re-authoring the Narrative
One of the primary goals in Narrative Therapy is re-authoring our stories, shifting from problem-saturated narratives to ones of resilience and hope. Poetry, with its ability to distill emotions and experiences, becomes a tool for this re-authoring process. A poem can encapsulate a turning point, celebrate a triumph, or envision a hopeful future. By crafting these new poetic narratives, we often gain clarity and empowerment.
Poetry’s Role in Reflection and Mindfulness
Engaging with poetry—whether writing or reading—encourages mindfulness and introspection. The process of choosing words, considering their rhythm, and reflecting on their meaning slows down the mind and invites deeper connection to emotions. For clients who may feel disconnected from their feelings or overwhelmed by them, poetry offers a structured yet creative way to process and integrate their experiences. It also strengthens connections in the Default Mode Network of the brain, a series of interconnected parts of that brain that help us tend to the Self and consider it from the perspectives of past, present, and future.
Practical Applications in Therapy
Therapists and clients incorporating poetry into their work might:
- Use existing poems to prompt discussion about themes relevant to the client’s life.
- Invite clients to write poetry as homework or during sessions to explore their thoughts and emotions.
- Explore poetic forms like haikus or free verse to help clients distill their stories into manageable pieces.
- Analyze client-created poetry to identify strengths, patterns, and opportunities for re-authoring.
- Identify ways to share the client’s poetry as a way of inviting in other witnesses to the re-authored narrative.
Final Thoughts
The role of poetry in Narrative Therapy is both profound and versatile. By blending the structured storytelling of Narrative Therapy with the evocative power of poetry, therapists can help clients externalize problems, discover new perspectives, and re-author their lives in meaningful ways. Whether used as a reflective exercise, a collaborative tool, or a path to mindfulness, poetry enriches the therapeutic journey and deepens the connection to self and story. For those seeking to weave creativity into the healing process, poetry stands as an invaluable ally.