16. Prescribing Poetry for Improved Perspectives

After our episode 6 conversation with the Art Pharmacy in the U.S., we knew we had to speak with Deb Alma from the Poetry Pharmacy in London and Shropshire, England when we saw her on NBC Morning News. Poetry, often seen as a fading art, has the power to heal by addressing a range of emotions—sadness, grief, change, growth, learning, and loss. Deb took this concept and transformed it into something truly alive and accessible to anyone in need. Many forms of art, including reading or writing poetry, play a crucial role in mental healing, aligning with the idea of “social prescribing”—the practice of using creative expression, whether through music, painting, or poetry, as a therapeutic tool. The Poetry Pharmacy has done just that.