How to Use Poetry With Teens in Play Therapy for Self-Expression

Creative ways to help adolescents express emotions, explore identity, and access the therapeutic powers of play through expressive arts.

When most people hear the word poetry, they think about English class.

Old poems.
Confusing metaphors.
Trying to figure out what the poet was “really” trying to say.

I’ll be honest—when I first heard about using poetry therapeutically, my initial reaction was something along the lines of “stick needles in my eyes.”

But years ago, when I was living in Virginia and helping organize trainings for the Virginia Association for Play Therapy, a colleague introduced poetry therapy during a training.

And by the end of that training, I was hooked.

What I realized is that poetry—when used as an expressive arts modality—can be an incredibly powerful way to help adolescents express what is happening inside of them.

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Since then, I’ve used poetry in play therapy sessions with teens, families, and groups, and I’ve found it to be one of the most effective ways to help adolescents access the therapeutic powers of play.

Why Poetry Works So Well With Adolescents

Adolescence is a developmental stage filled with identity exploration, emotional intensity, and shifting relationships.

Teens are often trying to figure out:

Who they are
What they believe
How they fit into the world
What their relationships mean

But talking directly about these things can feel overwhelming.

Poetry gives adolescents another pathway.

Instead of forcing insight or conversation, poetry allows them to:

Express emotions indirectly
Explore experiences symbolically
Reflect on identity and beliefs
Process difficult experiences creatively

Poetry provides a structure for self-expression while still leaving room for imagination and meaning-making.

In play therapy, that means poetry can help teens access the therapeutic powers of play, including:

Self-expression
Communication
Creative problem-solving
Emotional regulation
Identity development

All within the safety of the therapeutic relationship.

Poetry as an Expressive Arts Modality

It’s important to clarify something.

I’m not a poetry therapist in the same way that someone might be an art therapist or music therapist.

Instead, I integrate poetry into my play therapy theoretical model as one of many expressive arts tools.

Poetry becomes a way to help adolescents access experiences they may not yet be able to verbalize through traditional talk therapy.

Sometimes those experiences are stored implicitly—meaning they exist as sensations, emotions, or images rather than clear verbal memories.

Expressive arts activities like poetry help bring those experiences into awareness in a safe and creative way.

The Benefits of Poetry in Play Therapy

When used thoughtfully, poetry can support several important therapeutic processes for adolescents.

Self-expression

Poetry helps teens communicate feelings that may feel too complex or vulnerable to say out loud.

Emotional regulation

The writing process itself can be calming and meditative. Focusing on rhythm, words, and imagery can help regulate the nervous system.

Identity development

Adolescents are constantly exploring their values, beliefs, and sense of self. Poetry gives them space to reflect on these questions in a creative way.

Meaning-making

Writing allows teens to process experiences and explore what those experiences mean to them.

Validation

When adolescents see their emotions reflected in poetry—whether their own writing or someone else’s—they often feel seen, heard, and understood.

This aligns with what Daniel Siegel describes in interpersonal neurobiology: helping clients feel seen, heard, understood, and held.

And that sense of attuned connection is one of the most powerful elements of therapeutic change.

Practical Ways to Use Poetry in Play Therapy

There are many ways to integrate poetry into sessions with adolescents.

Here are several activities I use regularly.

1. “What If” Poems

If a teen is stuck in worry or catastrophic thinking, I might invite them to write a “What If” poem.

For example:

What if my fears came true?
What if things turned out differently?
What if I took a risk?
What if I discovered something about myself?

This activity helps adolescents explore their fears and assumptions creatively while also opening the door to new possibilities.

It can be especially useful when working with anxiety or rigid thinking patterns.

2. Song Lyric Poetry

Most teens connect deeply with music.

So another activity I love is using song lyrics as the starting point for poetry.

Here’s how it works:

The teen chooses a favorite song.
We look at the lyrics together.
They select one or two lines that resonate with them.
Those lines become the starting point for their own poem.

From there, they can expand on the ideas, emotions, or images the lyrics evoke.

This activity often feels less intimidating because the creative process has already started with the song.

3. Word-Bank Poetry

I also keep a container filled with individual words—nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech.

The teen pulls out as many words as they want and uses those words to create a poem.

This activity is especially helpful for teens who feel stuck or intimidated by writing.

The words act as creative prompts and reduce pressure.

4. Poetry With Art or Clay

Poetry can also be combined with other expressive arts.

After writing a poem, the teen might:

Create artwork representing the poem
Sculpt a symbol from clay
Design a visual “cover” for the poem

This deepens the expressive process and allows multiple forms of creativity to emerge.

5. Blackout Poetry

Blackout poetry is another creative approach.

Using a magazine, newspaper, or old book page, the teen selects specific words to form a poem.

All other words are “blacked out” with marker or paint.

The result is a visual piece of art that also contains a poem.

Many adolescents love this activity because it combines creativity, art, and writing.

The Importance of a Theoretical Framework

Expressive activities should never be random.

Without a theoretical framework, therapists can fall into what I call the “spaghetti against the wall” approach—trying activities without clear therapeutic intention.

When poetry is integrated within a play therapy model, we can ask:

Which therapeutic power of play am I facilitating?
What developmental process is unfolding?
How does this activity support the client’s goals?

That framework ensures expressive arts activities are not just creative—they are clinically meaningful.

Final Thoughts

Poetry may not be the first tool that comes to mind when working with adolescents.

But when used thoughtfully within a play therapy framework, it can become a powerful avenue for:

Self-expression
emotional regulation
identity exploration
and healing.

For many teens, poetry offers a way to say what feels impossible to say out loud.

And sometimes, those few written words can open the door to profound therapeutic change.

Categories: : Adolescents in Play Therapy, Art in Play Therapy, Community, Expressive Arts, Play Therapy, Play Therapy Academy, Play Therapy Elevation Circle, Podcast, Supervision