Do you want to have a full understanding of how poetry therapy works? Do you want to experience the range of special techniques that are currently used in the field today? This intensive provides a solid foundation in bibliotherapy theory and experiential process. In addition, you'll walk away with an anthology of some of the most powerful poems or "poetry prescriptions" that you can get "over the counter"!

THE CAPE COD WRITING RETREAT
With Sherry Reiter and Ann Forcier

Calling all lovers of the spoken and written word to a celebration of word, song, and spirit. Join Sherry Reiter and Ann Forcier, both writers who are trained in the use of writing for personal growth and transformation. Daily poet-walks to sites of exquisite beauty. Write and share your spontaneous creations. In a special event, guest musician Laura Cayer will transform your poetry to music on the spot! Don’t miss this amazing journey that will rejuvenate you and kindle your creative imagination.

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POETRY THERAPY: TOWARD SELF KNOWLEDGE PART I *
3-Day Training Seminar for Helping Professionals
with Sherry Reiter, PhD, PTR/MS
Monday, June 30 – Wednesday, July 2, 2008

• Do you want to have a full understanding of how poetry therapy works?
• Do you want to experience the range of special techniques that are currently used in the field today?

This intensive provides a solid foundation in bibliotherapy theory and experiential process. In addition, you'll walk away with an anthology of some of the most powerful poems or "poetry prescriptions" that you can get "over the counter"!

Poetry Therapy: Towards Self-Knowledge I*   is a three-day intensive seminar for helping professionals facilitated by Sherry Reiter. It is largely experiential with some lecture and discussion about the work as we are doing it. In poetry therapy, the written word is honored as a way to attain greater knowledge of self and others. Writing taps the creative self, waking us to new consciousness, new information and new possibilities for healing and "wholing." Participants will learn the basic steps for facilitating a poetry therapy group. We will also note why particular poems are especially successful with particular populations. Participants will experience different models and techniques of poetry therapy. The seminar will cover:

1) the history of poetry therapy;
2) the four basic ways that poetry therapy is practiced today;
3) basic theories about why/how poetry therapy works.
4) psychological mechanisms - egs.: resistance, projection, transference, etc.

The best way to understand poetry therapy is to experience it in a safe, comfortable atmosphere. Although this seminar is educational in nature, much of our time is spent doing actual, not simulated poetry therapy. The importance of working in a group process is stressed. "Equal talking time" is recommended so that each person gets a chance to speak. While you will be writing and discovering your own feelings through writing, you will also be learning about others' feelings in the group.

*NOTE: Poetry Therapy II: Toward Understand Special Populations will be offered at another time, but Poetry Therapy I is a complete experience in and of itself.

This intensive seminar has been taught at the New School for Social Research and at Hofstra University for the past twenty years. Now it is offered to professionals who wish to enhance their clinical skills with this dynamic tool.

COST: $275 tuition plus $25 materials. DATES: Monday, June 30 - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 LOCATION: Institutes for the Arts in Psychotherapy 526 West 26th Street, New York City TO REGISTER: Contact Sherry Reiter at The Creative "Righting" Center: Phone 718/998-4572 or E-mail sreiter@erols.com

The Creative "Righting" Center, directed by Sherry Reiter, PhD, welcomes persons from all walks of life who wish to use the written and spoken word for healing and personal growth. Sherry is a Certified Social Worker, a Mentor/Supervisor (NAPT approved), and an RDT/BCT(Board Certified Trainer) in Drama Therapy. These seminar hours are equivalent to 18 hours toward certification/registration in poetry therapy and may also be used to meet alternative training requirements of drama therapy.

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Cliffs that rise a thousand feet without a break,
Lakes that stretch a hundred miles without a wave,
Sand that are white through all the year, without a stain,
Pine-tree woods, winter and summer, ever green,
Streams that forever flow and flow without a pause,
Trees that for twenty thousand years your vows have kept,
You have suddenly healed the pain of a traveler’s heart.

Chang Fang Shen (4th century)