Poetry as a Tool for Wellness

Poetry and poem-making are compelling and effective tools in the journey toward wholeness. Poetry as a Tool for Wellness (PTW) is based on more than 20 years of groundbreaking work integrating poetry and poem-making into mental health and wellness programs. These skills-based sessions offer participants a safe and creative circle in which to explore themes vital to wellbeing.

The program was piloted with members of Austin Clubhouse, a non-profit, member-based organization made up of people living with mental health challenges.

The Poetry as a Tool for Wellness program continues to be offered regularly at the Austin Clubhouse.

In 2020 the program began to be offered online as a way to introduce participants beyond the local location in Austin, Texas to the healing process of poetry circles. The goal is to allow participants to experience poetry-as-healer for themselves and then learn the art of facilitating these groups as a peer so that the healing work can be brought to more people.

In 2023 the PTW Facilitator Training program began being offered as a two-part series with Part 1 offering the experience of the poetry circle and Part 2 focusing on the facilitation process. These 8-session trainings were offered online.

Beginning in Summer 2023 online "drop-in" sessions were offered through The Institute for Poetic Medicine as a way for anyone interested in learning more about Poetry as a Tool for Wellness to attend a stand-alone session without a series commitment for multiple weeks or sessions.

These sessions became a monthly offering in 2024 as part of IPM's mission to offer tools and support to heal body, mind, and spirit through the creative and therapeutic process of hearing, speaking, and writing poetry.

In 2023 IPM and PTW began partnering with Texas Peer Support Recovery Specialists to offering the PTW Facilitator Training as continuing education for these peer-support specialists. These training sessions continued and expanded in 2024 and 2025.

In 2025 this training series was also offered to a group of medical professionals in Singapore.

It is exciting to see this work being shared with communities worldwide.