Bibliotherapy: What is it? Part 1 of 3

So in my library science courses this summer I have come across this concept of bibliotherapy. Although it is a very old concept it is new to me and really fascinates me as well. This is the first in a series of 3 blog posts in which I will talk about what bibliotherapy is, why its useful and important, how librarians can get more involved in it, and then some personal stories about it.

1. What is bibliotherapy?
Although sometimes difficult to define, bibliotherapy in general is the use of books in healing or treatment (Pehrsson and McMillen). The concept of bibliotherapy goes all the way back to ancient Greece, where the Library in Thebes had the phrase "Healing place of the soul" over its doorway. However, the term 'bibliotherapy' was coined by Samuel Crothers in 1916 because during that time period (WWI) reading for therapeutic purposes greatly increased as patients libraries in hospitals used reading to help soldiers recover from physical and mental trauma (McMillen and Pehrsson 74; Turner 56). Today bibliotherapy is practiced by many different groups: physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses, parents, teachers, librarians, and counselors.

Classifying Bibliotherapy:

Developmental: used to assist individuals dealing with life transitions or normal development
Clinical: used usually by a trained mental health or medical practitioner to help meet specific therapeutic goals

Self-help: utilizes non-fiction sources often classified as self-help books
Creative: utilizes fiction or poetry

2. Why is Bibliotherapy Important?

According to a presentation by Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson and Paula McMillen bibliotherapy “increases self-awareness and clarifies emerging values, stimulates discussion of feelings and ideas, improves coping skills, reduces negative emotions, and enhances self-esteem, interpersonal skills and emotional maturity.” Additionally a bibliotherapist librarian commented in a survey that bibliotherapy has “real benefits to users, giving them more control of their illness” and a bibliotherapy patient responded in that same survey: “I feel that I have been able to help myself instead of just being told what is wrong with me” (Turner 60). Additionally Stephanie Burns states that creative bibliotherapy “facilitates valuable therapeutic work by evoking emotion and stimulating senses” and that clients “have an opportunity to find increased meaning, purpose, and hope for survival when fictional stories are utilized in therapeutic settings” (442; 446).

However, bibliotherapy in practice provides more than just a list of benefits on paper. Studies have shown that when used properly, bibliotherapy is successful. Recent literature reviews have shown that bibliotherapy as a separate treatment show mixed results, however they did conclude that bibliotherapy is very successful in helping patients reach treatment goals when used with other treatment methods (Aiex). Several studies have found positive responses to using self-help bibliotherapy with adults to treat health related problems, including improved attitudes towards problems and treatment and lowered stress levels (McMillen and Pehrsson 78).

Moreover, bibliotherapy can have economic benefits in addition to mental and medical ones. The British organization, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, advocates the use of bibliotherapy in the treatment of depression due to its cost effectiveness. This organization estimates that £5 million ($3.38 million) a year would be saved if exercise and guided bibliotherapy were used as treatments instead of antidepressant medication (Brewster 117).

So to Summarize:

• Bibliotherapy is helping people heal with books
• It has concrete positive impacts!
• It is proven successful as a treatment!
• It is cost-effective!

Works Cited:

Aiex, Nola K. “Bibliotherapy.” ERIC Digest. ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading, English and Communication. June 1993. Web. 7 June 2010.
Brewster, Liz. “Medicine for the Soul: Bibliotherapy.” Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services. 21.3 (2008): 115-119.
Burns, Stephanie T. “Utilizing Fictional Stories When Counseling Adults.” Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. 3.4 (2008): 441-454.
McMillen, Paula and Dale Pehrsson. “Specialty of the House: Bibliotherapy for Hospital Patients.” Journal of Hospital Librarianship. 4.1 (2004): 73-82.
Pehrsson, Dale-Elizabeth and Paula McMillen. A National Survey of Bibliotherapy Practice in Professional Counseling. American Counseling Association Conference. Charlotte, NC. March 2009. Presentation.
Turner, June. “Bibliotherapy for Health and Wellbeing: An Effective Investment.” Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services. 21.2 (2008): 56-61.