IPTN

Welcome to Irish Poetry Therapy Network - IPTN, a non-profit organisation that provides an environment where participants explore at first hand, through the use of poetry therapy and bibliotherapy, the healing power of poetry as a means of identifying and dealing with various life issues.

Find out more about us and how to join our network by checking out our site.


Confidentiality Agreement: IPTN Sessions are held in a confidential space. Participants, discussions and poems are only published with agreement. These sessions use poetry as therapy and are not psychotherapy sessions.

About Us

     

                                        

IPTN Committee 2023/24

Maria Ortega - Chair
Elizabeth Fitzsimons - Secretary
Bernie Walsh - Treasurer
Theresa Kelly - PRO
Shelley Tracey -  Development
Carol Boland - Operations
Ger Campbell- Member
Ali Broder - Member
Maria Ortega - Member 

Theresa, Ger, Carol and Shelley 

The Irish Poetry Therapy Network (IPTN) has been in existence since 2003. It was founded by Dr. Niall Hickey who was the first Certified Poetry Therapist in Ireland.

IPTN convenes several poetry therapy group sessions each year, which were held on a rotational basis in Gorey, Kilkenny and other towns to facilitate travel by its members. However, now we have moved permanently onto Zoom platform. 

We are a non-profit organisation that provides an environment where participants explore through the use of poetry therapy and bibliotherapy the healing power of poetry and writing as a means of identifying and dealing with various life issues.

Poetry allows us to journey through loss and grief and other emotional states, and provides a medium of exploration and self-discovery.  Poetry therapy groups provide us with a safe, caring environment with strict adherence to confidentiality.  


What happens at a PT session?
A PT group session lasts for two hours. Suitable poems are selected generally with a theme in mind. The facilitator reads the poem and then facilitates a process through the use of various prompts, and each individual is encouraged to engage in writing either a poem or piece of prose. The writing then becomes the channel for dialogue.

We do not critique any of the poems or writings that emerge during the session but we listen and hear the emotions and feelings that are expressed.  Our writings and poems generally show how far we have journeyed both as individuals and as a group.

New members are always welcome and the only requirements are a pen and notebook. 

IPTN is not a training body and details of how to train in biblio/poetry therapy are shown on our 'Training in Poetry Therapy' page. 

If you would like to  journey with us using the healing power of poetry, contact details are on our 'Contact Us' page