GER CAMPBELL (KILKENNY, IRELAND)

I am a certified Psychotherapist, now retired from my role as Community Addiction Counsellor with the Health Service Executive. I have a private practice and also work with clients on-line through Zoom and Skype. I find Poetry Therapy both complements and enhances the therapeutic relationship.  My own experience has shown how poetry when used within the therapeutic context aligns itself to growth and change as it both captures and supports life experience which is the common factor that brings clients to therapy. I use Poetry Therapy at clinical level on a one to one basis and at both clinical and developmental level with various groups.

For many years I worked as a part-time lecturer with Maynooth University on Certificate and Diploma level, Addiction Studies courses.  I was responsible for the development of Group Work modules which incorporated poetry as part of the personal development process.  I introduced Poetry into my teaching practice with great success.  My Masters Thesis was based on the use of poetry with Adult Learners as a portal to personal growth and development.

I have been awarded scholarships from BridgeXngs Poetry Centre New York.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Poetry Therapy Practitioner

• BSc. Hons (Counselling and Psychotherapy)

• MEd. (Masters in Adult and Community Education)

• Dip. Social Care

• MACI

• MIACP

• Practising Supervisor: Addiction Counsellors of Ireland

SPECIAL INTERESTS

• Regular Peer Group Meetings with colleagues from IPTN (Irish Poetry Therapy Network).

• Walking in the forest near my home provides both relaxation and inspiration for creative work. I am an avid reader and cannot be without a book.