You can probably see from browsing my blog post selection that I’m rather bullish on books – I love to read and it does me good.
Rather than rocking myself into desperate existential despair, I self-medicate in the pages of my favorite literature instead.
Fortunately, I’m not alone – many other people use reading as therapy to prevent them from going doolally.
The truth is, words have the power to heal.
We can see ourselves in the fictional characters and worlds that great authors so effortlessly create.
Similarly, we resonate with the descriptions of non-fiction authors who describe our quirks and foibles so adroitly.
And this is where the magic happens.
Bibliotherapy is the practice of using books to our therapeutic advantage.
What is Bibliotherapy?
If you’ve never heard the term, according to the wisdom repository that is Wikipedia, bibliotherapy is:
“A creative arts therapy that involves storytelling or the reading of specific texts. It uses an individual’s relationship to the content of books and poetry and other written words as therapy.”
It also overlaps and is often combined with writing therapy.
What is it for?
Bibliotherapy can be used for various psychological symptoms, covering everything from anxiety and depression, to overthinking and procrastination.
It can also help with the following:
- Anger management
- OCD
- Life purpose
- Relationship issues
Who is it for?
Bibliotherapy is a service for someone who recognizes the power of literature and its potential as an effective adjunct to traditional forms of therapy.
Some people prefer a combinatorial approach to solving their problems and this form of treatment can provide an individual with the self-management tools to thrive outside of the normal psychotherapy clinic.
In practice, the treatment usually appeals to those who find the practice therapeutic – however, even those who are not overly comfortable with reading can still benefit from its effect, through the use of image-based literature.
Bibliotherapy Service
Due to its wide-ranging application, Bloomsoup offers a bibliotherapy service.
Here’s what you can expect:
- An initial email exchange to verify if you would benefit from the service
- An introductory consultation with one of our team
- Personalized book recommendations alongside traditional therapy sessions if this is indicated
Location
The power of books is in their very ability to transcend borders.
For this reason, I want to make this service accessible to all.
Therefore, any sessions will be performed remotely via a video conferencing platform.
Next Steps
If the above sounds interesting, feel free to reach out to our team at [email protected] to signal your interest.
