Poetry, psychoanalysis, and the creative mind: Two poets converse

The present article grew out of an oral presentation given to the members of the Connecticut Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology in April 2025 and is based on that talk. While there are many articles exploring the interweaving of poetry and psychoanalysis as language-based creative practices in the literature, this article is unique in that it focuses on two practicing poets/therapists engaging in dialog. This article explores the rationale behind linking poetry and psychoanalysis, with a focus on the intersections of language, the creative unconscious, and metaphor. Part of the discussion includes how the authors were drawn to poetry and the poets they considered as literary "ancestors." Samples of the authors' own poetry are presented, and the application of poetry to clinical work and the benefits it offers writers and clinicians are examined. We would like to thank Ellen Nasper, Ph.D. for introducing us to each other, Ashley Warner, LCSW, for connecting us to the journal, and Sandra Hershberg, M.D. for inviting us to contribute, as well as for her patience, warm support, and encouragement.