Teaching self-love through poetry and creative writing exercise: a case study

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present research aims to explore how a poetry therapy-based session plan on self-love impacts students' relationships with themselves. A session plan, developed using the RES poetry therapy model, was taught to 32 adolescent students from Banasthali Vidyapith School. Following the session, the written pieces produced by the students were subjected to thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's [Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101] framework. The analysis sought to capture students' reflections on their relationship with themselves, focusing on self-love. Three key trends emerged which encompassed a progression: first, the transformation from feelings of guilt for self-mistreatment to the commitment to self-care; second, a shift from mere assertions of loving themselves to an awareness of the conditional nature of their love; and third, a transition from inhibition towards the concept of loving the self to acknowledging the importance of self-love.