How can poetry help heal when words are not enough?
The Power of Poetry in Healing: Finding Words When There Are None
Written by Rebekka Matthews, LSW, Move Forward Counseling Therapist
For many survivors of childhood complex trauma, finding the right words to express what we feel can be one of the hardest parts of healing. How do you explain emotions tangled in shame, guilt, or a lack of understanding of why you feel the way you do? For years, I struggled to verbalize my experiences; how trauma had shaped me, how it had stolen my sense of safety, and how it continued to echo in my everyday life.
Sometimes, the pain felt so immense that it seemed impossible to put into words. I would try to speak, but the words always felt too heavy or too broken to express what I truly meant. There were no words that could capture the depth of the fear, the sadness, the confusion, or the resilience buried within me. But then, I discovered something powerful: poetry.
Using Poetry as an Outlet
Poetry gave me an outlet where words didn’t have to be perfect. It allowed me to write without fear of judgment or misunderstanding. It gave me the space to unravel emotions that I didn’t know how to speak aloud. In poetry, I could give voice to the silence of my pain, and it became a means to understand my own heart in ways I never could before.
Poetry is raw. It doesn’t require explanation, but it asks for honesty. And sometimes, that honesty is exactly what we need to start healing. It’s in those quiet moments with pen and paper that we can express our deepest vulnerabilities, our most profound pain, and ultimately our incredible strength. Poetry helped me see that my journey, no matter how difficult, was part of something greater than just survival. It was a journey toward healing, transformation, and resilience.
That journey led me to write Unwoven, a collection of poems that reflect the reality of surviving trauma, navigating healing, and rediscovering resilience. It’s more than a book. It’s a companion for those who have struggled to find the words to express what they’re feeling, for those seeking a way to connect with their own stories without shame or fear.  In Unwoven, I also explore the complex and often conflicting emotions that come with trauma. I share the moments when the world felt like it was falling apart and the times I had to rebuild from the pieces of my brokenness. But I also share the hope, the courage, and the small steps of healing that slowly, beautifully, lead us toward wholeness.
How can poetry help heal when words are not enough?
What does healing through poetry mean?
Healing through poetry doesn’t mean the pain disappears—it means we learn to live with it in a way that doesn’t define us. Poetry offers a safe space for expression, a gentle way to process what we might never have been able to say out loud. It’s not just about the words; it’s about feeling seen, understood, and less alone.  Whether you are on your own path to healing or walking alongside someone who is, Unwoven invites you to sit with your pain, your resilience, and your healing process. It reminds us that healing is not a linear process, but it is possible. There is strength in surviving, power in finding your voice, and beauty in the process of becoming whole, piece by piece.
If you’ve ever struggled to find the right words, I hope Unwoven helps you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone. And if you haven’t yet discovered the transformative power of poetry, perhaps now is the time to let it guide you, as it did for me.
I am so proud of you for the unique journey you are on, and I hope that Unwoven can be a small part of that path forward.
As you journey through the complexities of healing, I leave you with one of my poems from Unwoven:
Healing in Words
In ink and rhythm, I find my way,
A silent voice begins to say—
The things I couldn’t speak before,
The pain, the hope, the open door.
Each line a step, each verse a breath,
A place to hold both life and death.
Through tangled thoughts, my heart can heal,
In poetry, I learn to feel.
What silence hides, these words set free,
A journey’s end, yet still to be.
In every line, a spark of light,
Poetry makes brokenness feel right.
Read more about Unwoven or purchase it here.
Request counseling for trauma, healing, grief & loss, and PTSD from Rebekka Matthews or another MFC trauma-specialized therapist.
