April 19, 2022 • SPEAKER SERIES • Dr. Carol Barrett – The Healing Poem: How Does it Work?
7:00 PM EST
In this talk, Dr. Carol Barrett will examine a number of theories proposed by psychologists, poets and poetry therapists to explain the healing power of lyric poetry. These include frameworks deriving from psychoanalytic theory, to research on trauma, the role of witness, the potential for rewriting life stories, the impact of rhythm and a consideration of cultural rituals. She will describe her own phenomenological inquiry into the healing brought about by writing about the death of her father. She will summarize experiences working with both humanities and psychology students in graduate courses on poetry and healing, in dealing with such common health challenges as cancer, Alzheimer’s, the current pandemic, alcoholism and bereavement. Encouragement to pursue the healing potential of poetry will be conveyed, with some caution stemming from the potential overwhelm when confronting “buried” traumas.
About Carol Barrett:
Carol Barrett holds doctorates in both Creative Writing and Clinical Psychology. She has published two volumes of poetry (Calling in the Bones and Drawing Lessons) and one of Creative Nonfiction, titled Pansies. She coordinates the Creative Writing Certificate Program at Union Institute & University, where she teaches doctoral students in Interdisciplinary Studies. She also teaches Psychology doctoral students at Saybrook University. Carol enjoys sending her poems to places one would not typically look for poetry – JAMA, The Climbing Art, The Bee Keeper’s Journal, Oregon Birds – as well as literary magazines and anthologies.
Thanks to generous support from the Ohio Arts Council, Arts Midwest, and the National Endowment for the Arts, our Speaker Series is free through May 31, 2022.
7:00 PM EST
In this talk, Dr. Carol Barrett will examine a number of theories proposed by psychologists, poets and poetry therapists to explain the healing power of lyric poetry. These include frameworks deriving from psychoanalytic theory, to research on trauma, the role of witness, the potential for rewriting life stories, the impact of rhythm and a consideration of cultural rituals. She will describe her own phenomenological inquiry into the healing brought about by writing about the death of her father. She will summarize experiences working with both humanities and psychology students in graduate courses on poetry and healing, in dealing with such common health challenges as cancer, Alzheimer’s, the current pandemic, alcoholism and bereavement. Encouragement to pursue the healing potential of poetry will be conveyed, with some caution stemming from the potential overwhelm when confronting “buried” traumas.
About Carol Barrett:
Carol Barrett holds doctorates in both Creative Writing and Clinical Psychology. She has published two volumes of poetry (Calling in the Bones and Drawing Lessons) and one of Creative Nonfiction, titled Pansies. She coordinates the Creative Writing Certificate Program at Union Institute & University, where she teaches doctoral students in Interdisciplinary Studies. She also teaches Psychology doctoral students at Saybrook University. Carol enjoys sending her poems to places one would not typically look for poetry – JAMA, The Climbing Art, The Bee Keeper’s Journal, Oregon Birds – as well as literary magazines and anthologies.
Thanks to generous support from the Ohio Arts Council, Arts Midwest, and the National Endowment for the Arts, our Speaker Series is free through May 31, 2022.
7:00 PM EST
In this talk, Dr. Carol Barrett will examine a number of theories proposed by psychologists, poets and poetry therapists to explain the healing power of lyric poetry. These include frameworks deriving from psychoanalytic theory, to research on trauma, the role of witness, the potential for rewriting life stories, the impact of rhythm and a consideration of cultural rituals. She will describe her own phenomenological inquiry into the healing brought about by writing about the death of her father. She will summarize experiences working with both humanities and psychology students in graduate courses on poetry and healing, in dealing with such common health challenges as cancer, Alzheimer’s, the current pandemic, alcoholism and bereavement. Encouragement to pursue the healing potential of poetry will be conveyed, with some caution stemming from the potential overwhelm when confronting “buried” traumas.
About Carol Barrett:
Carol Barrett holds doctorates in both Creative Writing and Clinical Psychology. She has published two volumes of poetry (Calling in the Bones and Drawing Lessons) and one of Creative Nonfiction, titled Pansies. She coordinates the Creative Writing Certificate Program at Union Institute & University, where she teaches doctoral students in Interdisciplinary Studies. She also teaches Psychology doctoral students at Saybrook University. Carol enjoys sending her poems to places one would not typically look for poetry – JAMA, The Climbing Art, The Bee Keeper’s Journal, Oregon Birds – as well as literary magazines and anthologies.
Thanks to generous support from the Ohio Arts Council, Arts Midwest, and the National Endowment for the Arts, our Speaker Series is free through May 31, 2022.