To All Book Lovers

Bibliotherapy has been shown to be effective in a variety of populations, from young to old and across many cultures (Girčienė & Žukauskienė, 2022).  It’s versatility shows it being studied across various theoretical perspectives with positive results and employed to address a myriad of mental health concerns and interpersonal issues.  These include, but are by all means not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, child resistance isolation, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADS), anxiety, depression,  childhood sexual abuse (Schlub et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2021; Wohl & Kirschen, 2020).  Bibliotherapy has been shown to increase positive emotions and decrease negative ones while also improving one’s overall subjective well-being (Zhang et al., 2021).  The versatile and broad applications of bibliotherapy across ages and cultures makes bibliotherapy a powerful and desirable tool to employ during counseling.  Additionally, in cases where the client is reading and/or reflecting about what they have read outside of session, bibliotherapy provides intentional engagement and tangible growth opportunities outside of the counseling session.  As an avid reader and lifelong book lover, bibliotherapy appeals to me both personally and professionally. 

Bibliotherapy Credentials and Training

The International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy uses the all-encompassing term poetry therapy to include all therapy where the interactive employment of literature and writing in therapy and counseling for the growth and development of the client.  This organization offers three credentials. The Certified Applied Poetry Facilitator is credentialed for working with healthy populations and for licensed mental health professionals they offer the Certified Poetry Therapist (CPT) and Registered Poetry Therapist (RPT) credentials (IFBPT, 9 August, 2022).  CPT and RPT credentials differ in the number of facilitation hours that are required and the time spent with specific populations and in specific settings for extended periods of time(IFBPT, 9 August, 2022). 

A Deeper Look at Bibliotherapy

The term bibliotherapy has referred to the use of written (or audio) material to enhance, compliment or inform a client’s pursuit of therapeutic goals.  What bibliotherapy actually looks like in an a counseling setting can vary greatly.  For example, specific books or reading material can be suggested as a supplement to work being done during counseling.  An in-depth group can be organized for clients, led by a counselor that can delve into the material and unpack it at weekly group and/or individual sessions (Abraham et al., 2021).   Bibliotherapy protocol can call upon the therapist or the client to read aloud during session or it may involve the client reading independently and reflecting on what they read.  Reflection can include journaling or can occur as part of the following session.    Most commonly cited purposes and desired outcomes of bibliotherapy include gaining new perspectives and insights which can lead to new ways of being and interacting in the world.   Improving interpersonal relationships is also a benefit garnered from bibliotherapy (Hedman et al., 2016).    

Bibliotherapy with children and adolescents has been shown to be effective in addressing a variety of issues.  Studies showing positive results from bibliotherapy include genetic counseling for children with inherited predispositions to syndromes to children with a parent who has a mental illness (Schlub et al., 2021).  Bibliotherapy has been show to be successful in issues from  addressing a child’s fear of dogs (Zhang et al., 2021) to addressing the trauma of childhood sexual abuse (Wohl & Kirschen, 2020).   A process that includes five stages has been identified to chose effective material and create engagement in bibliotherapy (Schlub et al., 2021).  Involvement is the initial stage and represents the client’s engagement in the story.  Next, Identification, speaks to the client’s engagement with the characters or protagonist and in particular their ability to see commonalities with themselves.   The third stage, Catharsis, is marked by the client’s sense of familiarity or understanding.   Insight, the next to last stage, occurs when the client applies the narrative to their own life, situation or issue.  Finally, Universalism, is seen in the client’s comfort in not being alone in their struggle.  The stages give chronological and objective-based guidance to use when working with clients regardless of the narrative being used or the issues it is being employed to address. 

When looking for the right book or piece of literature there are consideration that must be taken into account (Berthoud & Elderkin, 2014).  First and foremost, the material must be developmentally appropriate.  For independent reading it must be at a comprehension and reading level that the client can understand readily.  With regards to content, it is suggested to look for plot lines that are conceivable and authentic and the client should be able to relate to and identify with the story and its characters.   The characters should have many dimensions, including strengths and flaws.   The primary conflict is resolved, addressed or examined with an emphasis on the protagonist’s autonomy and strengths (Pehrsson & McMillen, 2005).

References

Abraham, S., Owen-De Schryver, J., & VanderMolen, J. (2021). Assessing the Effectiveness and Use of Bibliotherapy Implementation Among Children with Autism by Board-Certified Behavior Analysts. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 51(7), 2485–2499. 

Berthoud, E., & Elderkin, S. (2014). The novel cure: From abandonment to zestlessness: 751 books to cure what ails you. Penguin Books. 

Boyd, D. R., & Bee, H. L. (2019). Lifespan development (8th ed.). Pearson. 

Casares, D. R., & Binkley, E. E. (2021, January 1). Podcasts as an Evolution of Bibliotherapy. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 43(1), 19–39.

Girčienė, J., & Žukauskienė, D. (2022). Application of Bibliotherapy in Gestalt Therapy: Fiction Books as a Stimulant of Personality Transformation. Knygotyra, 79.

Guitelman, J., Mahar, E. A., Mintz, L. B., & Dodd, H. E. (2021). Effectiveness of a bibliotherapy intervention for young adult women’s sexual functioning. Sexual & Relationship Therapy, 36(2/3), 198–218. 

Hedman, E., Axelsson, E., Andersson, E., Lekander, M., & Ljotsson, B. (2016). Exposure-based cognitive-behavioural therapy via the internet and as bibliotherapy for somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder: randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry : The Journal of Mental Science, 209(5), 409–415. 

Neukrug , E. (2018). Counseling Theory and Practice (2nd ed.). Cognella, Inc.

Pehrsson, D., & McMillen, P. S. (2005). A Bibliotherapy Evaluation Tool: Grounding Counselors in the Therapeutic Use of Literature. The arts in Psychotherapy, 32(1), 47-59. https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/lib_articles/31

Radtke, S. R., Muskett, A., Coffman, M. F., & Ollendick, T. H. (2023). Bibliotherapy for Specific Phobias of Dogs in Young Children: A Pilot Study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32(2).

Schlub, G. M., Crook, A., Barlow, S. K., Fleming, J., Kirk, J., Tucker, K., & Greening, S. (2021). Helping young children understand inherited cancer predisposition syndromes using bibliotherapy. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 30(4), 1119–1132.

Schutt, R. K., Deng, X., & Stoehr, T. (2013). Using Bibliotherapy to Enhance Probation and Reduce Recidivism. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 52(3), 181–197.

Vetri, K., Piché, G., & Villatte, A. (2022). An Evaluation of the Acceptability, Appropriateness, and Utility of a Bibliotherapy for Children of Parents With a Mental Illness. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13.

Wohl, A., & Kirschen, G. W. (2020). Reading the Child Within: How Bibliotherapy Can Help the Victim of Child Sexual Abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 29(4), 490–498.

Zhang, H., Chen, Z., Zhang, J., Zhou, X., Li, S., & Ren, H. (2022). Effects of Developmental Bibliotherapy on Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(7), 15.

IFBPT, Training guide. International Federation for Biblio Poetry Therapy. (2022, August 9). Retrieved March 18, 2023, from https://ifbpt.org/training-guide/