The National Association for Poetry Therapy Presents
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
Date: Friday, December 4, 2026
Time: 8:00am - 12:00am (EST)
Venue: Zoom
Host: Tim Kelly tim@poetrytherapy.org
Registration:
Members — free
Non-Members — free
* Any donations from our virtual events support our conference scholarship fund.
Schedule
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
Meet the Presenters
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.
Recordings and Certificates
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 members: $5
- Non-members: $10
