Biblio/Poetry Therapy Education in Finland

Abstract

In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the history, development, and current state of biblio/poetry therapy education in Finland. We trace the origins of the field, starting with its introduction and the formation of the Finnish Association for Biblio/Poetry Therapy, and highlight the significant milestones that have shaped its growth. We also examine the evolution of training programs, from their early stages to the present-day offerings, and discuss how they have adapted to meet the needs of professionals in diverse fields, including social services, education, and mental health care.

In addition to offering this historical and developmental context, we share our personal experiences in designing and refining the training model for biblio/poetry therapy. This includes organizing and facilitating courses at various summer universities across Finland, where we have worked with participants from different backgrounds to foster a deeper understanding of how poetry can be used as a therapeutic tool. A particular focus of the article is our experiences in adapting to the challenges posed by the global pandemic, which accelerated the need for remote learning. We describe the process of quickly transitioning to online training formats, the challenges we faced, and the innovative solutions we implemented to maintain the quality and effectiveness of the courses. Through these experiences, we reflect on the future of biblio/poetry therapy education, especially in the context of remote and hybrid learning environments.