The Poetic Wavelength—Tuning into the Meaningful Poetics of Psychosis

Abstract

Despite the emerging evidence base to support the therapeutic potential of creative writing and poetry for a variety of mental health problems, the therapeutic potential of poetry for people who have experienced psychosis remains poorly understood. The paper argues that by considering psychosis as meaningful poetics, this epistemological shift has the potential to foster curious inquiry and increase opportunities for meaningful dialogue. The paper introduces and explores the concept of the ‘poetic wavelength’, building on the previously established notion of the psychotic wavelength, which proposes that others need to ‘tune in’ to what is being communicated through psychosis. The concept of the poetic wavelength suggests that the reading and writing of poetry may support this process of ‘tuning in’ both for those experiencing psychosis and those working therapeutically with them.