The Power of Poetry
In this episode, host Junie Swadron talks to fellow author, Lawrence J. W. Cooper.
Poet laureate of the Comox Valley.
As a psychologist and poet who has walked the path of borderline personality disorder (BPD), generalized anxiety disorder, and depression, he wishes to help others through his three books of poetry. His first book, Bi, expresses the feelings he experienced in the process of coming to grips with his sexual orientation. In The Room he walks you through his emotions while undergoing therapy after he crashed. Enchanted With Life is his victory song, his celebration of the life he now lives.
He is uniquely equipped to deal with the subject of mental disorders on both an emotional and academic level. Having walked the path of borderline personality disorder (BPD), generalized anxiety disorder, and depression, he believes he has developed a life that he now truly loves to love.
His areas of expertise include ten years as a psychometrician and reading specialist, eighteen years as a school administrator/counsellor/special education coordinator, as well as being available as needed for School Division Educational Psychologist services. In addition, he has spent the last thirteen years teaching high school advanced placement Psychology and English courses on-line. He is the winner of the Canadian Teacher’s Federation Hilroy Fellowship for innovation, and the Alberta and Canadian Educator and Administrator of the Year awards for Inclusion of children with special needs into mainstream education.
Audio Only Version of Interview with Lawrence
Video Version Below
Links from the podcast:
His book In Search of the Lost Self contains research, personal anecdotes, and suggestions for living and thriving with borderline personality disorder. The Grounding Virtues and The Centering Virtues are workbooks that take you step by step into building a better life. In addition Lawrence facilitates workshops using the Sacred Circle to explore the healing power of poetry.
Lawrence J.W. Cooper
author | speaker | poet
LawrenceJWCooper.ca