What is the Practitioner of Poetic Medicine (PPM) Training Program?

The Poetic Medicine Training Program is designed for a wide range of people interested in using poetic medicine for themselves, as well as bringing this healing art to others, meeting the therapeutic needs of individuals and communities. This practice of poetic medicine serves as a catalyst for spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

The training program draws from a lineage of practitioners and a practice that includes clinical and indigenous perspectives of “poetry as healer.” The Institute's Founder, John Fox, brings 40 years of experience. He has taught in a variety of graduate programs, and made ground-breaking written contributions to the field. The training program's structure and content was developed by John, with the support of IPM board members and IPM's national network of people working in the field of poetic medicine.

Phase 1 is dedicated to personal work within the cohort. You have all experienced Phase 1 as part of your CPE training using John's book Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making as the working text.

Phase 2 uses this personal experience with Poetic Medicine to turn the lens more toward sharing this work with others and emphasizes best practices in Poetic Medicine.

Phase 3 is the academic and practicum stage—taking Poetic Medicine out into the world.

As Graduates of Phase 1 we are excited to invite you to continue this journey with PPM Cohort 4 and hope that you will be able to join us!

A bit of History about IPM:

The Institute for Poetic Medicine (IPM) was founded in 2005 by poet, author, and educator John Fox, PPM.

His goal was to bring poetry as a healing practice to a wider community. Since then hundreds of poetry circles have gathered, each with an emphasis on creating both a safe and creative circle, participants are guided by experienced Poetic Medicine Facilitators to approach poetry for self-understanding through reading, reflecting, and writing poetry. Sharing within the poetry circle is by invitation and is not necessary or expected.

In addition to poetry circles IPM also offers two options for facilitator training. Our 8-week Peer-Facilitator Training series offers guidance, practice, and feedback for those interested in using the Poetry as a Tool for Wellness series to share poetry circles in their communities. The more in-depth 3-year/3-phase Practitioner of Poetic Medicine training guides students through the process of designing and offering their own poetic medicine programs.

IPM also offers grant opportunities each year for those bringing poetry-as-healer to specific communities free of charge. These are called IPM Poetry Partners.

We invite you to learn more about IPM at our website:

www.poeticmedicine.org

PPM Cohort 4 - Phase 2

By The Institute for Poetic Medicine

PPM Cohort 4 - Phase 2

Practitioner of Poetic Medicine Training Cohort 4