The Healing Power of Poetry
with Joy Roulier Sawyer
November 4, 2026
Length: 6 Weeks
Open to AllText and Live Video
Zoom calls Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 P.M. Eastern
Original price was: $445.00.$380.00Current price is: $380.00.
Original price was: $445.00.$380.00Current price is: $380.00.Enroll Now
Poetry has long served as a healing balm for the soul—an exploration into beauty, balance, humor, wisdom, and love. Yet recent neurological research confirms yet another positive aspect of reading and writing verse: poetry is good for the brain.
In this course, you’ll journey alongside several poets whose works resonate with a variety of healing themes, as well as receive tips on how to use poems as springboards for future personal writing. Our in-class reading is designed to help center and balance you, while the prompts in response will encourage writing that offers personal insight and wisdom.
In addition, we’ll also discuss basic principles of developmental poetry therapy, and how you might use this approach to write through normal life experiences: relationships, loss, memory, body awareness, self-love, and others. Assignments are optional, and are designed to offer creative reflection and nourishment. No previous experience is needed for this poetry immersion.
Learning and Writing Goals
Students will learn:
- about many contemporary poets whose work is healing, among them: Mary Oliver, Li-Young Lee, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Ellen Bass, Amy Christman, William Stafford, J. Ruth Gendler, Derek Walcott, Starhawk, Laura Grace Weldom, Lois Larimer, Ursula LeGuin.
- an overview of the Hynes & Hynes-Berry Biblio/Poetry Therapy model used in developmental poetry therapy, which is the model we’ll use to both read and respond to poetry.
- basic psychological and neurobiological research on the healing power of poetry.
- how good poetic craft—concrete, sensory, specific detail—contains inherently healing qualities.
- How to use basic craft elements, such as metaphor, anaphora, imagery, sound, rhythm, voice, and formal verse, as healing tools.
Writing Goals
Even though class assignments are optional, students are encouraged to read and write poems, as well as reflect on and learn from their writing. In addition, the use of basic craft elements as possible healing tools will be encouraged and explained.
Zoom Schedule
This course will meet on Zoom on Wednesdays at 6:00-7:30 P.M. U.S. Eastern Time.
Weekly Syllabus
Week 1
We’ll read poems in class by Mary Oliver and Ursula LeGuin, as well as write in response to poetry prompts designed to lead us into writing for balance and calm. In addition, we’ll discuss a few basic discoveries in the neurological benefits of both poetry and handwriting.
Week 2
Our poets this week include Ellen Bass and Amy Christman. The writing prompts this week will focus on self-love, body awareness, dealing with loss, and poetic devices for personal writing. We’ll also discuss basic principles of developmental biblio/poetry therapy.
Week 3
We’ll continue our discussion on using biblio/poetry therapy principles to promote healing, as well as tips on how to use poems as springboards for our own future writing. Poets include J. Ruth Gendler, Starhawk, and Derek Walcott.
Week 4
As one of our poems this week reminds us: compost happens. And comfort for that reality can emerge from unlikely places. We’ll explore poems by Laura Grace Weldom and Lois Larimer.
Week 5
Receiving both grace and kindness is yet another aspect of healing poetry. Our poets this week include another poem by Mary Oliver, as well as one by Danusha Lameris.
Week 6
We’ll wrap up our four weeks with a continuation of our healing poetry immersion by reading poems by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Li-Young Lee, and William Stafford. Our conversation will include ways we might continue momentum in using poetry for personal insight and wisdom.
Why Take a Healing Poetry Writing Course with Writers.com?
- We welcome writers of all backgrounds and experience levels, and we are here for one reason: to support you on your writing journey.
- Small groups keep our online writing courses lively and intimate.
- Work through your weekly lectures, course materials, and writing assignments at your own pace.
- Share and discuss your work with fellow writers in a supportive course environment.
- Award-winning instructor Joy Roulier Sawyer will offer you direct, personal feedback on every assignment you submit.
Original price was: $445.00.$380.00Current price is: $380.00.Enroll Now
Student Feedback for Joy Roulier Sawyer:
November 4, 2026
Length: 6 Weeks
Open to AllText and Live Video
Zoom calls Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 P.M. Eastern
Original price was: $445.00.$380.00Current price is: $380.00.
Original price was: $445.00.$380.00Current price is: $380.00.Enroll Now
