BIBLIOTHERAPY

Simply, "bibliotherapy" takes place when a therapist uses books to help people solve problems. Healing through books is not new — it goes back to ancient Greece. Bibliotherapy works best when used in addition to other therapy methods.

How it works is, you and I define a problem that you wish to work on, such as anger management. I suggest a book, manual, or brochure that I have experience helping people with. Together, we agree on reading assignments in the book. In therapy, we discuss what you have read and apply it to your real-life experiences. In some ways, it functions like group therapy, in that reading an author's words may give you new perspectives on your problem — and suggest solutions you may want to try for yourself.

You may want to try bibliotherapy for many reasons: (1) to develop an your self-concept; (2) to increase your understanding of human behavior or motivations; (3) to foster your honest self-appraisal; (4) to provide a way for you to find interests outside of yourself; (5) to relieve emotional or mental pressure; (6) to discover that you are not the first or only person to encounter such a problem; (7) to show you that there is more than one solution to a problem; (8) to help you discuss a problem more freely; and (9) to help you plan a constructive course of action to solve a problem.

On my "Books" page, I am compiling a list of books or other materials that I have found useful working with my clients over the years.