What I Learned From Therapists in Ukraine: Treating Trauma with Poetry

The Creative “Righting” Center

presents

“What I Learned From Therapists in Ukraine: Treating Trauma with Poetry”

2 continuing education credits for licensed social workers

An Interactive, Live Webinar

Sunday, September 22, 2024

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

“Broken,/ Everything is broken,/ All that remains of our former life are broken shards of clay/ All that remains of our former lives– just weeds.” I recently facilitated a series of support workshops for Ukrainian therapists who work with the military and their families. Poetic language is uniquely shaped by the trauma of war. The language of traumatized clients powerfully reflects fragmentation, terror and hope. Learners will participate in a demonstration that highlights different techniques for the application of poetic language to trauma, now confirmed by neuroscientists. No special ability in writing is required, and sharing is optional.

About the Instructor

Sherry Reiter, LCSW, PhD, is on the faculty of Touro University and a guest lecturer at Hofstra University. She is Director of The Creative “Righting” Center and has worked with marginalized populations for the past four decades. Her book, Writing Away the Demons: Stories of Creative Coping Through Transformative Writing, is a primer in the field. Sherry Reiter is an international speaker and past President of The National Association for Poetry Therapy and the International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this course, learners will be able to:

• Identify the three essential components of a poetry therapy session.
• Articulate at least two reasons poetic language is effective in trauma treatment.
• Assess effectiveness of a therapeutic poem.
• Implement journaling exercises in therapy sessions.

This is an interactive workshop with writing and optional sharing.

Course Outline

7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

The neurobiology of trauma

How imagery, metaphor, and symbol impact the brain

Poetry Therapy Practice I: Shifting perspectives with Mary Oliver

8:00 p.m.-8:10 p.m. Break

8:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.

Brokenness and wholeness: An exploration

Reparation of damage and reinstallation of hope

8:45 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Conclusion:

Questions and Answers

Closing Exercise

Course Interaction & System Requirements:

This live webinar is fully interactive. Attendees may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation and participate in student and leader led discussions.

System Requirements:

• Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher, Mac0S9 or higher, Android 4.0 or higher

• Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 9 or higher

• Broadband Internet Connection : Cable, high-speed DSL & any other medium that is internet accessible

Fee & Registration

Cost: $60

Register by September 21, 2024.

Refund requests must be received at least 48 hours before the start of the live webinar. Refunds will be issued for the amount paid minus ticket fees.

Should the event be canceled, refunds will be issued in full within five business days.

Course Completion & CE Requirements:

To earn CE Credit, learners must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete the Google form online evaluation (link will be sent by email). Certificates will be sent via email within ten business days of course and evaluation completion.

The Creative “Righting” Center, provider # 1939, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 04/15/2024 - 04/15/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.

Sherry Reiter, Ph.D. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Workers as an approved provider for continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0528.

Note: It is an ASWB ACE and NYSED requirement that the session must be attended in full to receive CEUs.

For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please email: info@thecreativerightingcenter.com.