Poetry as a Coping Tool

Workshop Description

Life tends to throw heavy stuff at us, and it’s our job to manage our mental health through it all. This workshop walks you through methods for writing poetry as a coping tool through grief, loss, and trauma. From free writing and responding to prompts, to observing your situation and trying a poetic form, poetry can help you process and manage emotions through the heaviness.

Attendees will read poets like Sabrina Benaim, William Bortz, Ross Gay, and Jamaal May. Each week attendees will put poetic coping tools into practice by generating their own poetry.

Workshop Detail

Winter 2026
Four sessions with Kelsey Bigelow on Google Meet
Sunday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. ET
Dates: March 1, 8, 15, 22
$165

Workshop Facilitator

Kelsey Bigelow is a poet and speaker based in Des Moines. She spends her time working as a mental health poet sharing this therapeutic tool with audiences of all ages across the world. She is the author of five poetry projects, including her book Far From Broken. Her work is published with several small presses and journals. Kelsey is a 2024 Pushcart Prize nominee, a 2023 Button Poetry Video Contest Finalist, and a 2023 Central Avenue Poetry Prize finalist. As a performer, Kelsey has worked with organizations such as The Mayo Clinic, NAMI, and more. Videos of her work can be found on Button Poetry, Write About Now, Ghost Poetry Show, and elsewhere. She's the founder of the Des Moines Poetry Workshop, the chair for the Iowa Poetry Association Poetry Slam, a teaching artist in the Des Moines community, a director for the BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam, and a founding member of the 2025 io-what poetry slam team.

Comments

"I learned tricks I wouldn't have thought of before and hadn't learned in school. This was an insightful workshop!" - Riley V. 

"Kelsey does a masterful job in opening doors for people, and that's really what it's all about for her. It's part of her inherent mission to encourage others to open up, use creativity as a vehicle to release and process some feelings we all go through at different levels. She is becoming a champion because she has that combination of teaching and encouraging and enabling, while also doing and processing and sharing." - John B. 

"Kelsey was honest and real with the students, and the tone she set allowed for thoughtful and raw writing to come forth. She is a writer AND a teacher...what a powerful combination. Her influence will continue to be felt." - Karen D. 

"Kelsey is powerful and dynamic, and she moved me to tears at her performance. Her teaching abilities are remarkable. Honest and forthright, she is a blessing for us all." - Robert L. 

Questions: editors@riverheronreview.com

Refunds: Up to one week prior to the workshop start date, full refund minus $15 processing fee. After that time, there are no refunds.

Workshop sessions recorded at facilitator’s discretion. There are no make up sessions.