Inside a provider's perspective: Using practitioner poetry to explore the treatment of persons with mental illness

This article explores the uses of practitioner poetry as a tool for facilitating an understanding of the lived experiences of persons suffering from mental illness. This is accomplished in four primary ways. First, the use of poetry as a source of data and knowledge acquisition is explored. Epistemological issues implicated by expressive arts research are addressed, with a focus on the role of poetry in post-modern qualitative research. Second, the importance of poetry to the mental health field and mental health consumers is discussed. Third, poems are presented that explore the experience of people with mental illness from the vantage point of a practitioner. Finally, a thematic analysis of the poetry identified themes related to working with mental health consumers. The article ultimately can be used as a vehicle for increasing practitioner insight, self-reflection, and empathy.