{"id":7589,"date":"2022-10-23T06:18:58","date_gmt":"2022-10-23T06:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/?p=7589"},"modified":"2022-10-23T06:19:00","modified_gmt":"2022-10-23T06:19:00","slug":"bibliotherapy-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/bibliotherapy-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Bibliotherapy Examples That Explore the Power of Reading"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bibliotherapy is a technique for book enthusiasts to use the power of words to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open the mysterious portal that books provide and we can explore our inner-most selves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t already I recommend checking out my broader article<\/a> on the topic for more background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll examine how bibliotherapy is used in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bibliotherapy Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Self-directed Bibliotherapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who\u2019s ever read any books is already engaging in a form of the technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading as an activity has been shown to strengthen the connections within the brain and thus provide various health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever you pick up a book you\u2019re getting the same effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether that\u2019s a work of fiction purely for relaxation purposes or nonfiction for concrete knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of fiction, we might be subconsciously drawn to books that provide insight into our own lives through the story arc of the character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they\u2019re experiencing challenging and obstacles we empathize and hold the fictional account up as a mirror, helping us to place our own reality into perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of nonfiction, we often explore topics related to the struggles we\u2019re experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just consult the best books section on this site for evidence of the plethora of psychological woes people face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, self-help books have exploded in popularity as we seek direction in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More intentional bibliotherapy might involve seeking out specific works or using reader\u2019s advisory services to find titles, authors and subjects that can address a particular issue such as grief, anxiety, or low self-esteem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, this is the first step in self-management and can provide the impetus required to seek professional help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Clinical Bibliotherapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another example of books being used as a therapeutic modality is in a clinical setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this approach, a qualified psychotherapist or counselor will supplement their sessions by prescribing homework to the clients, in the form of reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the research up to now has focused on the use of nonfiction to provide study subjects with psychological tools and techniques to supplement their in-person therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the results have been extremely positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cognitive behavioral therapy<\/a> involves looking at the evidence behind our beliefs, and letting the theory provide a supportive framework for achieving this in reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maximizing our understanding of how the brain and mind work is imperative to make the most of professional help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, one of the highest ROI books I read in my own bibliotherapy was about meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I finally grasped that my thoughts were routinely spiraling out of control and how to use my attention to step back and observe them impartially, I was able to gain the psychological distance needed to calm my frantic mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Developmental Bibliotherapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The young adult genre in literature has exploded in recent years as authors and publishers acknowledge that there’s a growing demand from this demographic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adolescence brings with it a range of challenges, including discovering one\u2019s identity and navigating relationships; books can provide a comforting and relatable outlet for these struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bibliotherapy is not a replacement or substitute for professional help, but a tool to be utilized alongside therapy or in the case of self-directed bibliotherapy, as a form of self-care and exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children are sponges, absorbing information from the world around them to integrate and forge their emerging personalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bibliotherapy, used in such a transformative time, can be highly effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allowing children to express themselves through open dialogue reduces any stigma surrounding their feelings and their inevitable cocktail of emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching life lessons through the medium of fictional stories on nonfiction role models provides them with the emotional tools they need to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, my own love of adventure books when I was young directly impacted my future travels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They inspired me to eventually seek out foreign lands and when I encountered the usual obstacles, to treat such challenges as stories to tell the grandkids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I directly attribute this mental resilience to the literature I enjoyed growing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progression<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These three primary bibliotherapy examples give you an idea of the transformative power of literature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the instructional elements of the practice, there\u2019s the simple fact that reading is an inherently pleasurable activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, ask most bibliophiles what they would like, and the answer usually involves curling up with a good book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I think this activity can also be taken a step further, where we really investigate the literature for its personal significance, a step best achieved through writing therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where we use stories as a way to explore and make sense of our lives, using writing as a springboard for self-discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing Therapy and Bibliotherapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n