Co-hosted by the Modern Family Institute in collaboration with Panasonic Well
Caring for others takes time, heart, and energy—and it often leaves little space for your own voice. We invite you to take a moment just for yourself. In a short, one-on-one session with a trained Listener Poet, you’ll be heard with full presence. From your story, the poet will create a personalized poem for you to keep, a reflection of the love, challenges, and resilience that shape your caregiving journey.
With your permission, anonymized poems may also be shared to honor and amplify the voices of caregivers everywhere.
How It Works
Schedule your session. Choose a 20-minute time that fits your day, via Zoom or phone.
Share your story. A Listener Poet will listen deeply as you share whatever’s on your mind. There’s no script—you decide what you’d like to talk about.
Receive your poem. Within a few days, you’ll receive a custom poem that reflects your story.
This experience is simple, supportive, and free of charge—our way of honoring caregivers and offering a moment of care for you.
Why Join
A pause for you: Step away from the demands of caregiving and take time to be heard.
A poem that’s yours: A tangible keepsake that affirms your story and offers comfort.
A circle of care: Hosted by the Modern Family Institute and supported by Panasonic Well, this offering is part of a larger effort to uplift the voices and well-being of caregivers.
Reserve Your Listener Poet Session
Caregiver Reflections
“I chose to participate to share my anticipatory grief for the loss of my mother.
Through this experience, I found resilience I did not know I had and an element of peace that I was not aware I needed. The experience truly healed a portion of my soul in need.”
About Your One-on-One Listening Session
There’s no need to prepare for your session, but you’re welcome to consider what you might like your poem to be about in advance if you’d like.
Your poem can be about anything meaningful to you. There’s no right or wrong focus—what matters most is that it’s personal and significant to you. If it’s helpful, you could reflect on the following questions in advance of your session:
How has your experience as a caregiver impacted your view of life, illness, or purpose?
As a caregiver for others, how do you also care for yourself?
Your Listener Poet will write your poem based on the conversation, and email it to you within five days of your session. You will have the opportunity to suggest edits before the poem is finalized. The poem will be anonymized and is yours to keep and share however you’d like.
A Listener Poet talks with a clinician at Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., January 2020
The Good Listening Project brings the healing power of poetry and compassionate presence to healthcare and community settings across the country.
In partnership with Modern Family Institute and Panasonic Well.