The Use of Collaborative Writing to Enhance Cohesion in Poetry Therapy Groups

Abstract:

Collaborative writing is used as a therapeutic technique in poetry therapy groups. This article describes a study on the effect of collaborative writing on cohesion in poetry therapy groups with 33 graduate students. Participants were randomly assigned to poetry therapy control groups without collaborative writing or experimental groups with collaborative writing. After six sessions, posttest scores on the Group Environment Scale (Moos & Hanson, 1974) indicated a significant difference in cohesion for those groups using collaborative writing. Previous research on collaborative writing and suggestions for future studies are discussed.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Writer, psychotherapist, and assistant professor of counseling psychology at Bowie State University in Bowie, MD