“Words are my best friends”: reclaiming voice and soul through twenty years of multi-modal poetry and drama therapy

Abstract

ABSTRACT This case study shares the history and treatment of a poet who struggled with multiple sclerosis for over 20 years, and how a clinical social worker and registered poetry/drama therapist continued to work with a person whose writing and speaking capacity progressively diminished. Poetry therapy, drama therapy, family therapy and individual therapy were all used to maintain the core identity of the poet, whose expressive capabilities were essential to her sense of self.