What is Bibliotherapy

Rosa Castro Psy.D

February 19

Bibliotherapy, commonly known as Book Therapy, offers an alternative type of therapy centered around the use of books. Bibliotherapy provides a platform for getting into a mindset that allows you to develop insight and new ways of viewing existing situations in your life. Books are selected based on your personal needs so you can dive deeper using a relatable topic or character as your healing muse.

There are two main categories of Bibliotherapy:

Developmental Bibliotherapy - This form of therapy is helpful in the educational system since its focus is on assisting young children and teenagers in developing healthy social skills. Books are selected to help children and teens work through challenges they may encounter, such as coping with family crises, the arrival of new siblings, handling shyness, learning to deal with bullies, or even managing uncomfortable feelings related to changing bodies, struggling with school subjects or the death of a loved one. The choices are endless and offer young kids and teens a safe method for developing insight and healthy coping skills.

Clinical Bibliotherapy – Often used by professional therapists or coaches when clients find themselves stuck or unable to connect to their feelings. It is a great way to provide clients with tools they can use in between sessions and topics that allow them to explore new ways of seeing things and relating to others who struggle with similar patterns or situations. The books recommended can be both fictional and nonfictional, depending on the clinical diagnosis of a patient. One great benefit of books is that there is never a shortage of topics that can be explored, and books can be reread throughout the years, even after finishing therapy.

There are a few ways to use book therapy:

Explore relationship dynamics, either through self-help or even romance novels. Individuals who struggle with relationship dynamics can benefit from reading books that allow them not to feel alone in their romantic struggles.
Clients can develop Insight from reading about situations that resemble their own. Often, seeing an outsider handling a similar situation can provide clarity and some direction when one feels lost.
It lessens the feelings of being alone and unique when it comes to facing specific challenges. The idea that others can also struggle with similar issues helps a client feel hopeful and less vulnerable.
Books often serve as catharsis since they allow individuals to experience certain feelings and emotions that are often ignored or buried within the unconscious.
It is a safe place to feel intense feelings without experiencing some of the consequences that occur in real-time.
A client's ability to identify with the characters in a book opens up opportunities for discussion in therapy.
Books offer opportunities to learn coping skills and new ways to view old problems.
If you are an over-thinker and typically worry more than necessary, a good book is a great way to get out of your head. It can be a cheap vacation out of Worryville for some folks.

Books can expand the work that a therapist does with their client by offering them concrete tools. There are times when talk therapy hits the ceiling since the client finds themselves repeating themes and sharing the same issue every week. Books serve as both homework and themes for working through ongoing patterns. Whether a book is fictional or nonfictional, it doesn't matter as long as the topic is relevant to the client. In addition to reading, clients can keep notes reflecting what thoughts or feelings were ignited by the books, which provides a good topic for therapeutic explorations.