“Think Poetic”: when poetry heals more than medicine.

“Think Poetic” began during the first lockdown in 2020 to support patients of the District 13 ASL Roma 1 mental health center. It has since grown into a poetry workshop open to the wider public.

Rome, May 19, 2025

by Dr. Marco Matteoli

Radiologist, freelance journalist, CRI volunteer

<< We want to promote poetry to improve mental health care within our community>>.

With these few words, Dr. Andrea Solfanelli, psychiatrist, describes Think Poetic — a project launched in 2020 to support patients of the Mental Health Center (CSM) in District 13 of ASL Roma 1.

Born in response to the emotional distress caused by the first COVID-19 lockdown, especially for those unable to physically attend the mental health center, the project initially began as a group chat for sharing self-written poems.

Over time, it evolved into a monthly in-person workshop, usually held on the last Tuesday of the month.

The activity is coordinated by Dr. Solfanelli and Dr. Isabella Cavicchia, a nurse and writer, who encourage not only CSM patients but also local residents to write and share their poetic compositions, opening themselves to the group without fear of judgment.

Far from any literary or academic ambition, Think Poetic presents itself as a free and inclusive space, where everyone is welcome to express themselves, listen, and participate. Participants read their poems aloud, offer feedback, or simply share the moment together. The result is a collective poetic flow, constantly evolving, that weaves together stories, memories, emotions, and personal experiences.

The therapeutic power of poetic language lies in its ability to give voice to the inexpressible — through imagery, symbolism, and rhetorical devices that bridge the conscious and unconscious mind. Within this framework, even discomfort and pain can find dignity and meaning, becoming opportunities for dialogue, connection, and healing.

Think Poetic is a simple yet quietly radical initiative, born from the need to combat the isolation and alienation that have marked our lives since 2020. In an age increasingly defined by fragmentation and loneliness, projects like this offer a concrete form of collective care — one that restores centrality to the human being and the depth of their inner world.

For information you can contact tel. 06/45460671