What Is Bibliotherapy?
Medically Reviewed By Whitney White, MS. CMHC, NCC., LPC
Bibliotherapy
Definition of Bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy History
Bibliotherapy Treatment Options
Types of Bibliotherapy
Creative bibliotherapy involves having a meeting of a group of patients with similar issues along with a qualified facilitator. Stories, poems, and fiction are read to the group, or the group reads aloud together. After the reading, a discussion ensues so that the patients can be involved in an informative conversation. During this time, the patients can hear other opinions and open up to many possibilities that the discussions offer. It is a great time for social interaction.
Developmental bibliotherapy is used in educational venues and helps support students with characteristic childhood and adolescent issues, such as puberty, bodily tasks, and general development. Parents can also use this type of therapy to assist in explaining these developmental stages at home.
Bibliotherapy Professionals
There are trained professionals to assist people with bibliotherapy. The International Federation of Biblio/Poetry Therapy (IFBPT) has established standards for these professionals to practice bibliotherapy. The title is certified poetry therapist, which encompasses bibliotherapy, poetry therapy, and journal therapy. Certifications include:
Certified Applied Poetry Facilitator (CAPF): BS or BA with some psychology experience. They are not certified psychology or psychiatry professionals but are trained to identify individuals who may be in distress and would need a referral to a mental health facilitator. They usually work in a library or educational setting. They can work in a mental health setting if they are supervised by a mental health professional.
Certified Poetry Therapist (CPT)/Registered Poetry Therapist (RPT): This certification entails post-graduate mental health coursework. They can work with individuals with mental health issues independently. Doctors can also get this type of certification.
Book Recommendations
Reading any of the recommended books in no way replaces the skills or support of a trained therapist or counselor. These books are listed as resources that may support those who are facing any of the listed issues.
Addiction:
Anxiety:
Depression:
Eating Disorders:
Family Issues:
Grief:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Self-Esteem:
Stress:
How to Find a Bibliotherapist
You may look online for bibliotherapy near you. Since it is a unique, non-traditional type of counseling or therapy, it may take some searching to find someone who is a trained bibliotherapist. A great place to start your search for a bibliotherapist is BetterHelp. By filling out a questionnaire about yourself and the type of counseling you would like, BetterHelp is able to match you with a therapist that meets your needs. Online therapy is a great alternative if travel, location, convenience, or flexible hours are concerns you have about beginning therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What is bibliotherapy for?
As covered by the federation for bibliotherapy, this form of treatment allows a person to gain insight into the challenges they are dealing with and develop strategies to address the most concerning issues. It can also help with problem solving, understanding, and mild to moderate disorders. The therapeutic process used in this type of therapy focuses on helping a person improve their mental state using applied behavior analysis among other methods. The foundation of it is using literature to support good mental health, and there are many effective registered poetry therapist professionals. It’s been known that bibliotherapy can help patients living with anxiety, depression, or mood disorders.
Cognitive Bibliotherapy Definition
Cognitive bibliotherapy is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Whether it is focused on child development or helping an adult living with symptoms, this kind of therapy is the process of reading as a way to facilitate the healing process and meet therapeutic goals. Reading books is a well-known way of reducing stress, and cognitive bibliotherapy is applying this concept to behavior therapy. There are many similar types of therapy, but this is arguably the only form of therapy that encourages participants to read books during the practice of bibliotherapy.
Is bibliotherapy evidence based?
Using experimental methods, researchers have found that, according to psychology today, bibliotherapy is an effective way to help those who are living with depression or certain disorders, as well as those who have experiences abuse anxiety or other mental health challenges. Medical professionals still test this kind of therapy against other types of therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy or play therapy, but reading books is a proven and effective way of reducing certain symptoms of disorders or conditions.
Bibliotherapy PDF?
Bibliotherapy PDF is simply a description of the therapeutic approach to mental health and treating disorders such as severe depression or bipolar disorder by reading books, sometimes at a treatment center for mental health. Health professional are constantly testing the viability of this form of therapy, but the federation for biblio poetry therapy and other types of therapy have found this to be successful. If you believe bibliotherapy may be able to help with any mental health problems you are experiencing, find a therapist who specializes in this approach so that you can foster good mental health. Alternatively, pursue treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy or play therapy to treat conditions.
Does reading decrease anxiety?
According to Reading Partners, the benefits of reading encompass reduced stress and anxiety as reported from tests run by health professionals. However, this is not the extent of benefits that come from reading and it is believed that fields such as biblio poetry therapy, as covered in the international federation for biblio poetry, can help treat people with conditions such as bipolar disorder or severe anxiety. There are other types of therapy, such as play therapy, that can be effective for younger children, but health professionals have found that reading and bibliotherapy can be effective.
Who needs cognitive behavioral therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychological treatment that is effective for a range of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug use, and more. A guide to theory of therapy may cover the methods health professionals use when focused on CBT, but it is focused more on analyzing certain behaviors and getting to the root cause of those behaviors. As far as mental health goes, CBT can be beneficial for child development and anybody experiencing a mental health disorder. Find a therapist who specializes in CBT or visit a treatment center for help.
Can reading be therapeutic?
Studies have shown that reading can put a person’s brain into a pleasurable trance like state akin to meditation. Bibliotherapy a guide on reading and the beneficial aspects it has on mental health. The library association of the world often discusses the numerous benefits of reading, but bibliotherapy applies the reading of books into a healing treatment for anxiety or depression. If you believe this approach to therapy may help, find a therapist in your area or a treatment center for mental health. In many cases, play therapy can also be an effective treatment if you are looking for your children, as play therapy focuses on building a bond and relationship between a child and their caregiver. Combining both types of therapy together can often yield beneficial outcomes.
