Claire Coenen, LMSW, M.Ed. M.T.S., believes the act of creating can sustain, renew, and surprise us all in beautiful ways. Since childhood, Claire has loved to play with language. Now she channels that love toward writing poetry that explores questions about belonging, beauty, loss, and hope. Her debut collection of poems is The Beautiful Keeps Breathing (Kelsay Books).

With a professional background as a clinical social worker, Claire helps people connect with self-compassion, resilience, and joy through imaginative self-expression. Claire is passionate about sharing writing practices that foster healing, and she leads expressive writing groups in Nashville, TN with Writing for Good, a program focused on bringing the healing power of writing to vulnerable populations. As a Kripalu-trained yoga teacher and SoulCollage® facilitator, Claire also enjoys teaching these embodied, playful practices.

Claire earned her Master of Education & Master of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University and received her Master of Social Work from The University of Tennessee. Claire completed the Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program, a two-year training with The Nashville Center for Psychoanalysis & Psychodynamic Therapy, in 2022. A lifelong student, Claire loves to read books on depth psychology, contemplative practice, and images of the divine feminine. (Check out some of her favorite books here.)