Draws from personal and professional experiences to provide a narrative perspective on journal writing. Delineates 10 reasons why journal writing can serve as a powerful adjunct to therapy, drawing on examples from journal therapy programs for inpatient psychiatric hospitals. (SR)

Describes the use of the collaborative poem in poetry therapy groups with low functioning patients in a psychiatric unit. Shows the collaborative poem to be an effective technique in fostering group cohesion and instilling contact with reality. (SR)

Discusses what a poet can offer severely disturbed psychiatric patients and how that is distinct from what a clinician offers. (SR)

Show how poetry writing proved to be an effective and efficient therapeutic tool for a homeless, alcoholic male suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. (SR)

Chronicles a poetry session conducted in a state mental hospital. Notes that nothing in the session corroborated the staff's grim warning that the level of the hospital population was low. Suggests that poetry therapy can be an instrument for the restoration of heart and mind. (RS)