Healing with Haiku: A Poetic Exploration of Self

by Anne Helfer

Overview

Healing With Haiku invites you to delve into your innermost self, both emotionally and spiritually, through the art of haiku. This form of poetry, with its emphasis on careful observation, contemplation, and honest vulnerability, allows you to navigate personal challenges while aspiring for a balanced, peaceful, and joyous life.

Therapeutic writing has long been a cornerstone of wellness programs, particularly those addressing trauma, addiction, anxiety, and stress. By merging the healing power of therapeutic writing with the mindfulness and self-expression of haiku, you can process significant moments and emotions in a structured yet creative manner.

In Healing With Haiku, you will learn to:
• Compose authentic haiku using the 5-7-5 syllable structure
• Choose emotional language to better express yourself
• Write with both guided prompts and personal inspiration

Create deeply meaningful haiku and discover new ways to articulate what is true and important to you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781961293144
Publisher:	Hatherleigh Press
Publication date:	02/25/2025
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.99(w) x 8.99(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Anne Helfer is an integrative psychotherapist specializing in grief counseling, health and wellness and stress management. As a social worker and mental health therapist she has worked with children and adults, always with the goal of empowering all of us to live more authentically. She has a Master's in Social Work from Syracuse University. A practicing yogi for nearly 30 years, she also teaches mindfulness and meditation practices. In 2016, she self-published the well-received book Eat Well, Sleep Better, Move More: A Journey of Self-Care.

Editorial Reviews

“Healing With Haiku contains Anne’s fiery passion for writing and guides readers to insights that pierce through to healing. It is a powerful resource.” —Gary Weinstein, LCSW, therapist

“Both informative and engaging, Anne presents a clear process to develop the reader’s authenticity by writing. In so doing, the reader is engaged in the curiously revealing art of the haiku. What once may have been unclear, this book reveals—both the power of haiku and the authentic self.” —Bill Cross PhD, LMFT, psychotherapist

“Healing With Haiku is a phenomenal tool in a therapist’s toolbox. The instructions to create and use haiku to access and process emotions are clear and concise, and provides a perfect method for anyone wanting to deepen their knowledge of themselves and transform their emotional landscape.” —Lisa Harrell, PhD, LCP

“Through haiku, Anne encourages the reader to delve into the soul, but does so gently, opening the self to deeper understanding. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking self-exploration and healing.” —Kate Lewis, PhD

“I learned a lot about the structure and ease of writing haiku in this book and highly recommend this technique to anyone seeking fun, creative expression and personal outlet for growth.” —Molly Bondellio, Transformational Yogi and Consciousness Guide and founder of Bhakti Yin Yogi

“It’s extremely well-written, simple yet deep, and unlike anything I’ve previously explored. I found the book an excellent tool for healing, growth, and expansion as well as a satisfying read.” —Mary Ellen Popyk, owner of Sanctuary Productions and Spirit Fest Holistic Health Expos

“Superbly crafted, encouraging and accessible, Healing With Haiku should appeal to a broad audience.” —Jikyo Bonnie Shoultz, Sensei, Zen Center of Syracuse

“Anne helps you to journey through the writing process and form magical haikus that, in turn, help you heal your soul.” —Crystal Pacheco

“This is a beautiful and artistic work. Powerful and practical, you’ll have the benefits of months of insightful therapy for a fraction of the price of one typical therapy session.” —Patrick Ryan

From the Publisher