Join us on October 25th, 2026, at 7 pm EDT for “Poetry Brew,” a workshop where we will brew up some poetry of the season.
This 1.5-hour workshop will explore the captivating world of All Hallows' Eve, its rich history, and the feelings this time of year inspires.
Through selected poems and materials, we will immerse ourselves in the eerie, mysterious, and enchanting voices of poets from beyond the veil. We will explore the words of writers from various backgrounds as they reflect on life, death, and transformation.
This workshop invites you to use the season as a catalyst to play with the magic and mystery of life through the language of poetry.
Come and connect with others who share your passion for writing and the enchantment of this season.
Participants will be invited to craft their own cauldron of words to share with the group if they choose.
Participants are welcome to bring something warm to sip and savor and are invited to dress as their favorite artist or poet from beyond.
Reserve your broomstick now!
$25 for non-members and $10 for members. Funds from this event support our conference scholarship fund.
AUDIO and a workshop materials packet will be provided for those who are not able to attend the event. Audio access will be provided for one month after the event. This event will not be posted for public viewing.
Facilitator Bio:
Cynthia Holloway Kelvin, Psy.D.RDT/BCT, CPT, is the current president of the National Association of Poetry Therapy. She is a clinical psychologist, registered drama therapist, and certified poetry therapist. Cynthia’s background includes working in community mental health and drug rehabilitation with people in various stages of recovery. Cynthia has a private practice in California as a creative psychologist and creative performance facilitator. Cynthia’s work uses a playful approach to discovery for participants at all stages of life. Her work is based on the belief that creativity can be harnessed to heal and help individuals and communities evolve. You can read more about her work here: evolvingstage.com
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30 pm (ET)
Venue: Zoom
Host: Cynthia Holloway Kelvin cynthia@poetrytherapy.org
Registration:
Members — $10 Non-Members — $25
* Funds from our virtual events support our conference scholarship fund. Please consider adding a donation if you are able.
The National Association for Poetry Therapy Presents
REGIONAL REP ASK AND SHARE
Theme for this quarter's gathering will be:
Identity
Who Are We?
What Are We Repping?
Who are you individually as a NAPT Regional Rep? Who are we as a NAPT program? Exploring and defining our manifesto in 2026.
We welcome your input. Hope you can join us!
Date: Monday, October 26, 2026
Time: 7:30pm - 8:30pm (EDT)
Host: Ellyn Zografi ellyn@poetrytherapy.org
Registration: Members — free Non-Members — free
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR POETRY THERAPY PRESENTS
VIRTUAL OPEN MIC NIGHT
"Gratitude for the Way the Soul Survives"
With Featured Poet:
Lisa Smith
Lisa Smith, MFA, is a retired Professor of Practice, Director of Dance, and Choreographer, for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas at El Paso for 20 years. She was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Award in the Arts. She has been teaching dance and directing dance programs and dance companies for almost 45 years. An MFA in Creative Writing, UTEP, her writing has spanned her entire personal career, and she was most recently published 2025: My Stroke, Soul Survivor: A Memoir and Poetry by Lisa Smith
Lisa Smith's book takes you inside the consciousness of a mind and a life knocked off kilter by a stroke, then walking the labyrinth back into a new life. Both the story and the way the story is told provide you with the most powerful account I've known of what this hero's journey can be like, a journey fraught with struggle and spangled with moments of insight and triumph. For anyone who has been touched by this life event, this book will offer compassionate understanding, and a verve to fight back into vibrant life. Kim Stafford, author of 100 Tricks Every Boy Can Do: How My Brother Disappeared
All participants are invited to bring one poem to share!
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm (EDT)
Host: Jenna Robinson jenna@poetrytherapy.org
Registration: https://poetrytherapy.org/event-6868277
Members — $0 Non-Members — $10
* Funds from all our virtual events support our conference scholarship fund. Please consider an additional donation to support NAPT scholarship fund:
https://poetrytherapy.org/GIVE
2026 International Research Symposium
An International Research Symposium for Biblio/Poetry Therapy will be held virtually on December 4th, 2026, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm (EDT). This event will feature voices from across the world sharing their insights on Biblio/PoetryTherapy and its use in creating a global community. Together with representatives from European associations of poetry therapy, we'll be uniting with a shared purpose: the belief in the power of language, symbol, and story to heal and foster unity and community. FREE - We will be hosting this event free and live for all. Recordings will be available for a limited time following the event and a Certificate of Attendance may be purchased for a fee. All participants must register to receive the zoom link. Schedule and Bios Below
An International Research Symposium for Biblio/Poetry Therapy will be held virtually on December 4th, 2026, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm (EDT). This event will feature voices from across the world sharing their insights on Biblio/PoetryTherapy and its use in creating a global community. Together with representatives from European associations of poetry therapy, we'll be uniting with a shared purpose: the belief in the power of language, symbol, and story to heal and foster unity and community. FREE - We will be hosting this event free and live for all. Recordings will be available for a limited time following the event and a Certificate of Attendance may be purchased for a fee. All participants must register to receive the zoom link.
Schedule and Bios Below
Date: Friday, December 4, 2026
Time: 8:00am - 12:00am (EST)
Host: Tim Kelly tim@poetrytherapy.org
Members — free Non-Members — free
* Any donations from our virtual events support our conference scholarship fund.
All times are Eastern (EST).
8:00 AM — The Ethics of Choosing Stories: Cultural Responsibility and Inclusive Practice in Bibliotherapy Holly Winter-Hughes, MSc, PhD Researcher · England, UK
8:30 AM — Rewriting the Story: Poetry, Black Identity, and the Reconstruction of Self Demere Coker, LGPC · United States
9:00 AM — Poetry as Narrative Documentation: Trauma, Witness and Cultural Belonging in a Multilingual English Town Naz Knight, LL.B (Hons) · England, UK
9:30 AM — Giving Language to Inherited Silence: Poetry Therapy, Historical Memory, and Building Community across Cultures María Ortega García · Spain / Ireland
10:00 AM — The Role of Silentium in Bridging Generational Gaps in Kutaisi Dr. Mariam Nemsadze · Georgia
10:30 AM — The Power of Poetry and Social Advocacy Linda J. M. Holloway, Ed.D., NCC · United States
11:00 AM — Bibliotherapy in Times of War: Ukrainian Practices of Trauma Processing and Healing Anna Shevchuk (Anna Liudnova) · Ukraine
11:30 AM — A Whole New World: Poetry as a Bridge in American Education for Adolescents with Disabilities Dr. Danielle Verwers, NBCT · United States
Holly Winter-Hughes, MSc, PhD Researcher Holly is a writer, therapeutic writing practitioner, and PhD researcher at the University of Birmingham. As founder and CEO of The Word Association CIC, she has spent over 15 years writing alongside diverse communities. Her poetry collection, How to Leave a Body, was published by Verve Poetry Press in 2025.
Demere Coker, LGPC Demere is a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at Bowie State University. He also directs program development and quality at Mettle Works Behavioral Health. His scholarship centers on culturally responsive counseling, Black male experiences, and social justice.
Naz Knight, LL.B (Hons) Naz is a poet, narrative psychologist, and CEO of NINE RED Presents… (CIC), a Queen’s Award-winning organization in Luton, England. For over 20 years, she has used poetry and spoken word with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She is Poetry Champion for Bedfordshire and a 2025 United Nations Association award recipient.
María Ortega García María is a poetry therapy practitioner, researcher, and trauma-informed educator working as Poética del cuidado | Poetics of Care. She edits the Journal of Poetry Therapy and coordinates programs at the International Academy for Poetry Therapy. Her bilingual practice draws on feminist, decolonial, and neuroinclusive perspectives.
Dr. Mariam Nemsadze Dr. Nemsadze is a Georgian scholar of Classical Philology whose research connects classical literature, human emotion, and bibliotherapy. She has lectured at Akaki Tsereteli State University since 2016 and has published more than 20 works on ancient drama. She also founded Silentium, an educational initiative that offers developmental bibliotherapy sessions and retreats. Through Silentium, she uses myths and dramatic characters as tools for guided self-reflection.
Linda J. M. Holloway, Ed.D., NCC Dr. Holloway is a Counselor Educator with over 30 years of experience. She is also a retired Colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps, with 31 years of service and four combat tours. In addition, she is a multi-award-winning author of eight children’s books, a spoken word artist, and a self-described “storyactivist.” Her honors include the National Poetry Outstanding Achievement Award and the Dr. Mary Smith Arnold Anti-Oppression Award.
Anna Shevchuk (Anna Liudnova) Anna is a writer, psychologist, poetry therapist-in-training, and founder of the IRIUM NGO in Ukraine. She leads art-therapy workshops for military personnel, veterans, and their families. In 2026, she received NAPT’s Courage in Crisis Award.
Dr. Danielle Verwers, NBCT Danielle is a National Board Certified educator and poet from South Carolina. She holds a master’s in Trauma-Informed Education and a doctorate from the University of South Carolina. Her poetry has appeared in the Hawai’i Pacific Review, Eastern Iowa Review, and elsewhere.
Live attendance is free. Can’t join us live, or want to revisit a session? The recording and a Certificate of Attendance are sold together as a package, available for a limited time after the event:
"NAPT" The National Association for Poetry Therapy
is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
19001 S Richfield Ave, #20
Green Valley, AZ 85614
