Stop Scrambling for Journaling Prompts Before Your Session

You know that sinking feeling. Your client needs creative expression tools. Journaling could be transformative. Therapeutic writing could unlock something profound.

But you don't have hours to research prompts, design lesson plans, or figure out how to structure a writing exercise that actually serves the therapeutic process. You just need something that works—something you can trust to guide your clients through emotional exploration without reinventing the wheel every damn week.

What if You Could Just... Plug and Play?

Imagine opening your session prep with 8 complete, ready-to-use therapeutic writing lessons that you can implement immediately. No training required. No guessing if your prompts will land. No staying up late cobbling together activities from Pinterest.

Just structured, therapeutic, evidence-informed lessons created by a Registered Poetry Therapist who's done the work for you.

Introducing: Poetry Therapy Playbook

This isn't some generic "journal your feelings" workbook. And before you think "my clients don't like poetry"—hold up. This is about therapeutic writing that helps people process emotions, explore thoughts, and discover insights.

Yes, we use poetry. But not the stuffy, academic kind that makes people's eyes glaze over. We're talking about writing as a tool for healing—short, structured exercises that work whether your client considers themselves "creative" or not.

This is a plug-and-play lesson system designed specifically for therapists, coaches, and healers who want to introduce journaling and therapeutic writing to their clients—without diving into months of specialized training.

Each lesson follows a therapeutic structure: warm-up, main prompt, cool-down. You guide your clients through creative expression that helps them explore emotions, process experiences, and discover insights they didn't know were there.

Here's What You're Getting:

• 8 Complete Individual & Group Therapy Lessons covering acrostic poems, sentence stems, haikus, alpha poems, 6-word poems, and more
• Classic Poetry Selections from Rumi, Christina Rossetti, William Blake, Nikki Giovanni, and others—with therapeutic prompts designed to deepen client reflection
• Structured Session Flow with warm-up exercises, main journaling prompts, and cool-down activities for each lesson
• Tips & Recommendations for both you and your clients—including do's and don'ts for trauma-informed journaling practice
• Therapist-Specific Guidance on how to let the writing do the therapeutic work, facilitate discussion, and accommodate diverse client needs
• Client-Friendly Format you can share directly with clients so they can visually follow along during sessions
• Flexible & Adaptable prompts that work for individual therapy, group therapy, or even as homework assignments

"But My Clients Don't Like Poetry..."

I've had so many people roll their eyes at me when I introduce this idea. 

Here's the thing: this isn't about liking poetry. It's about using words as a container for what's happening inside.

The "poems" in this playbook are simple structures—like writing one word per line, or filling in blanks, or answering a prompt for 5 minutes. No rhyming. No analyzing metaphors. No English class flashbacks.

We're using poetic forms (like acrostics and haikus) because they provide structure without rigidity. Your clients get a framework that helps them focus while still having freedom to explore what's real for them.

And the classic poems we include? They're there to spark reflection, not to be dissected. Clients respond to them, write about them, use them as jumping-off points. That's it.

If your client says "I'm not creative" or "I don't like poetry," you can say: "This isn't about being creative or liking poetry. It's about putting words to what you're feeling. I'll guide you through it."

And then you will. Because this playbook gives you exactly how to do that. And they'll say that it wasn't so bad after all. 

Questions?

Can I use these lessons in group therapy?
Absolutely. These lessons work beautifully in both individual and group settings. Several prompts include group sharing options.

Do I need to be a certified poetry therapist to use this?
Nope. This playbook was designed specifically for therapists, coaches, and healers who want to introduce therapeutic writing without specialized certification. Use it under your own clinical guidance and supervision.

Can I share this with my clients?
Yes! The playbook is designed to be client-friendly. You can print pages or share the PDF so clients can follow along visually during sessions.

What if my clients aren't "creative" or don't like poetry?
That's exactly why this works. It's not about being a "good writer" or loving poetry. It's about using simple writing structures as tools for emotional exploration. The tips section specifically addresses this, emphasizing curiosity over perfection. Most clients who say they "don't like poetry" end up loving these exercises because they're accessible, structured, and focused on their own experience—not analyzing literature.

Are these lessons trauma-informed?
Yes. The playbook includes specific guidance on writing about thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (not harmful memories), setting timers for containment, and processing objectively without judgment.

Ready to Stop Reinventing the Wheel?

Get instant access to all 8 therapeutic writing lessons. Download the PDF, review the tips and guidance, and start using these lessons in your very next session.

No specialized training required. No hours of prep work. Just plug, play, and watch your clients discover new parts of themselves through the power of words.