The Radical Therapist The Radical Therapist #139 – Poetics, Politics, and the Art of Therapy w/ Todd Disney, Psy.D.
14 snips
Nov 17, 2025 
In this conversation, Todd Disney, Psy.D., a narrative therapist and educator, shares his innovative approach to integrating poetics into therapy. He explores how language can disrupt ordinary narratives and evoke deeper client experiences. Todd emphasizes the ethical responsibility of therapists to listen and engage with clients' poetic expressions, moving away from traditional, therapist-centered methods. He also discusses the risks of aestheticizing suffering, highlighting the importance of honoring lived experiences while inviting poetic resonance.
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Purple Flower As Resistance
- A client said politics had robbed her of "beauty," then described finding a purple flower under a tree as a symbol of resistance.
- The image resonated so strongly she later tattooed the flower as a reclaimed symbol.
Life As Lived Art, Not Object
- Treating life as lived art emphasizes relational creation over objectifying beauty and resists prescribed norms.
- Foucault's aesthetics frames self-transformation as ethical agency against subordinating discourses.
Let Clients Be The Artists
- Avoid making yourself the artist; prioritize drawing out the client's voice and sensory details.
- Listen hard and favor clients' lived experience over crafting clever therapist-centered questions.
