Identifying the Mechanisms of Poetry Therapy and Perceived Effects on Participants: A Synthesised Replication Case Study

Abstract

Poetry therapy lacks a unifying, evidence-based operational model. This study was designed to test the utility and construct validity of extant models of poetry therapy using observational and experience-close data. Replication case study methodology was used, wherein two cases each comprised a video-recorded poetry therapy session and 4–5 interviews with session participants. The second case study was treated as a replication of the first. Mechanisms and perceived effects of poetry therapy were extracted from case material and synthesised to create an overall operational framework comprising 37 superordinate mechanisms and 58 associated effects. These findings were replicated in the second case study, with no new categories or conflicting evidence identified. Investigator triangulation and member checking were used to strengthen validity and reliability. Results were assessed for goodness-of-fit with two models of poetry therapy. The framework was well described by one of the models and concordant with both. Member checking indicated that the synthesised framework adequately described participants’ experiences. We conclude that there is empirical evidence to support the utility and validity of existing models of poetry therapy, and hope that our more detailed explication will enable greater specificity of questions in further research on practice. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.