July 12 -- “Using Poetry in the Healing of Our Souls” 

Perie Longo, Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara and HSB Clinical Therapist

Perie was Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara (2007-09) and the president of the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) from 2005-07. She is a Registered Poetry Therapist (PTR) and Mentor/Supervisor for those seeking training in that field, and a widely published poet. She has published three volumes of poetry, Milking the Earth, The Privacy of Wind, and most recently, With Nothing behind but Sky: a journey through grief (Artamo Press, 2006). This book traces, over a nine year period, her husband’s leukemia, his death, and her healing process. Her work has appeared in many poetry journals, and she has been featured on the Charles Osgood radio show, the Huffington Post, and with the Poetry Foundation.  Perie will discuss the work she does for Hospice of Santa Barbara, and give us a chance to do some writing of our own.