IPTN Strategy Forum – A Brief Report
On Saturday 11th February 2017, a group of poetry therapy enthusiasts gathered in Dublin to discuss the issues facing the advancement of poetry therapy in Ireland. Some of those unable to attend the forum, including delegates from N. Ireland, Wales, England and US, sent emails outlining their views, all of which were included in the open discussion.
Areas of debate centred on the viability of sustaining PT training in Ireland without access to Irish-based mentors, and the possibility of a university – home or UK – validating an MA in biblio/poetry therapy facilitated in Ireland. The major trainers in poetry therapy this side of the Atlantic, Jill Teague (iaPOETRY), and Vicky Field (IFBPT), are almost at their capacity level for trainees either online or face-to-face. They both recognise there is a steady increase in the demand for poetry therapy training and feel that greater co-operation between the UK and Ireland would be beneficial for all those interested in the benefits of poetry therapy.
Finally, there was a general consensus for the need for greater publicity to keep IPTN and poetry therapy in the public eye. This will include PT sessions, IPTN’s outreach programme, media interviews, and wider distribution of our new information brochure.
IPTN has now a mandate to seek recognition for Poetry Therapy in Ireland, in line with other creative therapies such as Art and Music. IPTN will maintain in contact with PT credentialing bodies, training mentors and MA validating bodies with a view to promoting this import creative and healing therapy.
Carol Boland
March 2017
