“ My mother was a poet , although both my parents worked as journalists , as did both of my grandfathers . When I was a teenager , I remember finding a copy of Lawrence Ferlinghetti ’ s A Coney Island of the Mind on my mother ’ s bookshelf , and being struck by the power of his words . I wrote my first poem outside of class when I was about 14 . We were at a family picnic up Rimini Gulch near the Continental Divide in Montana , and I was moved by the beauty of the mountains and the clean blue air . I needed to capture praise for what I was witnessing . I think most of my poems are ones expressing gratitude or witness ,” Conger remembers .
Conger entered graduate studies in psychology at Antioch University - Seattle intending to be an art therapist .
“ I felt , however , that I did not have enough art training . Then I discovered the field of poetry therapy after reading an article by John Fox , CPT ( Certified Poetry Therapist ) author of Poetic Medicine , and Finding What You Didn ’ t Lose . I signed up for an intensive workshop in Washington , D . C . and found my tribe . Here was a community of word lovers and healers and I felt at home in the truest sense . Simply put , poetry therapy involves a belief in the use of poetry for growth and healing ,” said Conger .
Conger encourages a safe , generative space to create . She said , “ I believe that creativity is innate in each of us , but societal expectations and schooling often stymies this natural urge . Unfortunately , too many people are threatened by poetry . They are afraid that they won ’ t get it , so they avoid it . Some of this is from having to “ autopsy ” a poem in school where the teacher would “ dissect ” it , often pronouncing that there could only be one meaning , and if you disagreed or had a different feeling about it , you were wrong . You , the reader , bring your life experiences and understandings to the poem . It is interactive . My approach to poetry is more invitational and inclusive . My favorite quote about poetry is this by John G . Stackhouse :
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“ Poetry condenses , compacts , crystallizes experience and insight . The best poetry is translucent , prismatic , kaleidoscopic : It lets light in and then splits it up , plays with it , in order to reveal something of the world previously unnoticed , or insufficiently celebrated , or inadequately mourned .”
28 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE