Stephen K. Levine argues that poiesis, the creative act, is also the act by which we affirm our identity and humanity; in exploring this subject he shows the essential affinity of the creative and the therapeutic processes. This book looks at the connections between the expressive arts, such as poetry, and psychology; in doing so, it develops an understanding of the theoretical foundations which connect the arts and psychotherapy. Poiesis considers the context in which modern therapy emerged. It provides a much-needed step in the theoretical underpinning of the expensive therapies.