“Under the black sun of the silence, the words burned slowly” (Pizarnik) use of literature in a therapeutic group in a closed psychiatric ward – as a creative way to return to recovery process

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article presents a therapeutic-group held at a closed-ward, for people coping with psychotic-disorders. Psychotic people generally have difficulty organizing their thoughts and expressing their internal worlds. Moreover, the therapists needed a different and creative way to create relationships and to have insights about the participants. We created a theme group that used the verbal-affective metaphoric instrument of literature. The use of literature leads to the dissipation of fear and suspicion and gradual familiarity in the relationship, and also to a strong therapeutic process and to the creation of a change. Additionally, the therapists were able to understand in a different perspective, the participants and their experience, but at the same time to be an observer from the side. The use of this instrument in therapy facilitated, the creation of a relationship, the ability to share insights and the beginning of a recovery process in a better and customized way.