Therapeutic metaphors and personal meanings in group poetry therapy for people with schizophrenia

Abstract

This article concerns the therapeutic potential of metaphor in group poetry therapy, concentrating on the poetry therapy process of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. The data was collected in a one-year poetry therapy group. The main questions were: (1) What kind of therapeutic potential can metaphors offer in group poetry therapy? (2) What are the personal meanings and evaluations that the participants give to the therapy process and its effects on their lives? (3) What are the most significant elements in poetry therapy from the viewpoint of the client? The analysis was based on the Grounded theory method. The results showed that the most significant therapeutic factors of the process were social interaction, safety, and written selfexpression. Writing in a group setting, especially through collaborative writing, had many positive effects on the clients. It allowed them to experience life's worth raising their hope. Metaphors and collaborative writing made it possible to discuss difficult personal experiences.

Therapeutic Poems for Advancing Coping, Empathy, and Cultural Well-Being

“…According to the author's experience (see also Maanmieli & Ihanus, 2021), the use of haiku and tanka for therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventive purposes has positive effects on advancing the well-being of the patients. At the same time, haiku and tanka therapy promotes and empowers fair culture, the realization of peoples' cultural rights and equal participation in the cultural activities of creating personal and communal meanings regardless of age, gender, language, disability, ethnicity, and religion.…”

Kohti traumainformoidun kirjallisuusterapian käytäntöä

“…s. 59) Runomuotoisille teksteille on tyypillistä, että niissä käytetään runsaasti metaforia, joiden avulla vaikeita asioita voi käsitellä turvallisesti ja sopivan etäältä. Poeettinen metafora voi olla silta tunteen ja ajatuksen välillä; se voi koskettaa jotain syvällä sisällämme, liikauttaa pintaamme (Ihanus 2019, 60;Maanmieli & Ihanus 2021).…”

“…Elämykselliset metaforat voivat tarjota koskettavia ja mieleenpainuvia kokemuksia, ja niiden avulla terapeutin on mahdollista välttää liikaa ohjailua. (Moon 2017, 8-11;Maanmieli & Ihanus 2021. ) Palaamme metaforien terapeuttiseen käyttöön myöhemmin tässä artikkelissa rintasyövän sairastaneiden naisten ryhmän kuvauksessa.…”

“…Metaforat ovat myös kokemuksellisia, ilmeikkäitä ja vaikuttavia -ne mahdollistavat ajattelutapojen muuttumista ja helpottavat erilaisia tapoja ilmaista tai tulkita. (Maanmieli 2020;Maanmieli & Ihanus 2021. ) Traumainformoidussa työtavassa yksi keskeisistä ajatuksista on tunnistaa, että osallistujien lisäksi myös ohjaajilla on usein traumaattinen tausta (Maanmieli 2020).…”

Post-conflict Eco-reconciliation in Moluccan Poetry

“…Related to the psychological influence of the world of words (poetry), Moon suggested that the interactive use of literature and therapeutic writing could be used to aid in healing schizophrenia, by utilizing metaphors to help find and create meaning in their lives (Maanmieli & Ihanus, 2021). Referring to the openness of poetry therapy, Mazza and Hayton state metaphors and symbols (in poetry) as important, which are similar to the symbolic components.…”