Psychotherapy for Poets: Basic Psychological Concepts & the Use of Self

Poetry as an art of self-exploration and writing can often resemble the therapeutic process: both require bravery and curiosity for deeply personal exploration. This workshop introduces key psychological ideas that illuminate how our temperaments, personal and familial patterns, and unconscious motivations shape creative work. Participants will examine how concepts such as archetypes, defense mechanisms, attachment styles, narrative identity, and the “use of self” can not only help us better understand ourselves but enrich lyric poetry and character-driven storytelling.

The workshop emphasizes writing as self-exploration and self-healing, offering creative strategies for supporting oneself in the lifelong search for meaning. Time will be set aside for writing prompts designed to help participants listen to their own reactions, track inner shifts, and engage more fully with the psychological dimensions of their work.

Through discussion and examples, we will explore how psychological processes appear on the page. Attendees will learn to identify latent motivations behind their poems, deepen character development, and place psychological insight directly into the context of their writing practice.

Galina Itskovich, a New York based poet, writer, translator, psychotherapist and international lecturer, holds a Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College (New York). In addition to full time practice, she writes poetry, prose and non-fiction, including but not limited to American Jewish experience of former Soviet Jews. Her poetry recently appeared in Nashville Review, Poet Lore, Asymptote, EastWest Literary Forum, Turkoslavia and elsewhere, as well as in Russophone journals. She authored one poetry book. Her latest book of travel prose, My Favorite Triangle, follows her trips to Latin America while exploring human affinity to the road and travels—bringing together fun facts, clinical insight, and literary craft. War Diary of a Desperate Psychotherapist, a non-fiction about emotional support during the Ukrainian war is coming out from the publishing house of Кharkiv Human Rights Group. She authored and co-authored many professional articles, among them “Use of the Heroic Journey Narrative in the Diagnostic Interview and Treatment”.

Galina Itskovich serves on the editorial boards of two literary journals, Slovo/Word and Emigrant’s Lyre. She is the director of the Refugee Support Program at the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center (PPSC) in New York. Her work has been covered by major U.S. media outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and PsychologyToday.com.

*If the ticket fee is a hardship, Yetzirah offers a pay-what-you-can option for workshop participation. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but please contact Program Coordinator Kyra Lisse at klisse@yetzirahpoets.org if you would like a sliding-scale ticket. 

Yetzirah is a nonprofit organization, and any gift you make is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law.