i have not heard of this. i feel that it would only benefit a very specific type of person BUT it has the potential to be highly therapeutic to that type.
somewhat related is the concept of paracosm from the development of imagination: the private worlds of childhood. this work gives valuable insight into world creation (ie. writing) as a part of childhood development. just as one child can find solace in escaping into another world, another can find the same by creating one.
Laura
· 10 months ago
I completely agree that bibliotherapy wouldn't be for everyone. In fact, I'm not even sure how it would all be moderated. Maybe what it all comes down to is imagination. If a child can gain solace through it, maybe mental health care could adjust for the growing person and tailor the use of imagination for adults. This would, however, ask clinicians to be imaginative themselves - a request that all too often gets ignored. Also: You are awesome!
erin
· 10 months ago
i've never heard of bibliotherapy but i've been self-medicating with reading my whole life. i guess any reader does, for that matter.
if my therapist that i know and trust recommended something for me to read i definitely would check it out.
i have been a patient in the mental health system (so to speak) for eight years now, struggling with sooo much and trying to get away from negative habits i use to feel better, and reading is one of my safest retreats. another thing that i find helpful is writing, and it's been explored a little bit as a therapy as well. you can read about it here (i have her book and it is amazing): writingthroughthedarkness.com/
Laura
· 10 months ago
Writing is certainly theraputic. I often tell people that one of the biggest parts of therapy is having a safe place to vent. Writing allows that and adds the added aspect of allowing thoughts to remain personal and private if need be. Thanks for mentioning it.
Also: You are awesome!
JayCruz
· 10 months ago
It's the first time I hear about Bibliotherapy too. I think it makes sense that books can be used as therapy.
NTE
· 6 months ago
I did my graduate school work (in early childhood education) on the use of picture books with characters who have disabilities in classrooms, and bibliotherapy was a large component of my work. It's very useful for all young kids to have characters they can relate to, and to learn about real life through stories, plays, and poems. I'm not sure how well it works with adults, except for in my own experiences, but the theory behind it is very similar to the theory behind using writing as a means of therapy.... both of which I think are very helpful for certain groups of people. (Other people would rather scream than write about their feelings, and therefore I don't think it'd be very helpful for them.)
I'm loving your tumbls, and am wandering through your archives, smiling, sighing, and wishing, each in turn.
All Comments
somewhat related is the concept of paracosm from the development of imagination: the private worlds of childhood. this work gives valuable insight into world creation (ie. writing) as a part of childhood development. just as one child can find solace in escaping into another world, another can find the same by creating one.
not even sure how it would all be moderated. Maybe what it all comes down to
is imagination. If a child can gain solace through it, maybe mental health
care could adjust for the growing person and tailor the use of imagination
for adults. This would, however, ask clinicians to be imaginative themselves
- a request that all too often gets ignored.
Also: You are awesome!
if my therapist that i know and trust recommended something for me to read i definitely would check it out.
i have been a patient in the mental health system (so to speak) for eight years now, struggling with sooo much and trying to get away from negative habits i use to feel better, and reading is one of my safest retreats. another thing that i find helpful is writing, and it's been explored a little bit as a therapy as well. you can read about it here (i have her book and it is amazing): writingthroughthedarkness.com/
parts of therapy is having a safe place to vent. Writing allows that and
adds the added aspect of allowing thoughts to remain personal and private if
need be. Thanks for mentioning it.
Also: You are awesome!
I'm loving your tumbls, and am wandering through your archives, smiling, sighing, and wishing, each in turn.