Like many modern-day practices, bibliotherapy has a long history. Above the library of Pharaoh Ramses II was an inscription which translates to ‘the house of healing for the soul’. The word bibliotherapy dates to Ancient Greece. ‘Biblion’ is the Greek word for books, and ‘therapeia’ meaning healing. Although American Minister Samuel Crothers was the person who joined the two words to create bibliotherapy.
As a therapeutic technique, bibliotherapy started in psychiatric hospitals to treat mental illness. Later on, bibliotherapy was used with World War 1 veterans suffering from what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now many therapists use bibliotherapy without even realising it. Reading materials are given to clients to help them understand what they are experiencing, are encouraged in creative therapies to journal, write poetry or even their own memoir. Those of us who are readers may even suggest books which contain the same themes our clients might be experiencing in their lives.
Reading has played a big role in my life. I have fond memories of our family trips to the library, and a Scholastic book sale was as exciting as Christmas. Through books I could travel to faraway lands, solve crimes, and choose my own adventures. I could even explore my fears from the safety of my home. As I got older books taught me that my life was very different to the lives than others. I learnt about drug addiction, war, and relationships. Books were my introduction to psychology and human behaviour.
Types of Bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy isn’t just about reading books for fun (although that’s a great idea for self-care!). But it also doesn’t need to be a complex therapeutic process. Here are three types of bibliotherapy you may come across.
- Self-help: non-fiction books which often have a cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) focus. These books will have a bit of education and some activities you can do between sessions or on your own. The Gottman Institute books for relationships are a great example of this.
- Prescription: originally a program developed in the UK, books by prescription form part of the therapeutic process. A counsellor will prescribe a list of books for their client to read and discuss in session.
- Creative: while less traditional this is becoming the more popular form of bibliotherapy. In a group setting, the counsellor will read sections of a book or a poem which is then discussed by the group. The intention is for participants to connect with their experiences and emotions through the text.
I need to credit my clients and friends for the idea of bringing bibliotherapy into my counselling practice. I’m asked quite regularly “have you read this book?”, “is this a good one to read?” or “where can I read about this?”. At times they recommend books to me. I’ve read books that I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise and discovered how revealing they can be. Sometimes people read a book and realise they need to talk to someone, while others find it easier to talk about a book than their own painful experiences.
In my own counselling practice, the use of books has been a combination of all three types. I’ve recommended books I think clients will find interesting and help them to understand their experiences, as a form of homework, and invite clients to bring their own readings into sessions to discuss. If books aren’t your thing that’s fine! My practice is person-centred first, bibliotherapy is complimentary.
Book Recommendations
My original intention was to share reviews of books I had read which I thought my followers might find interesting. I soon realised that I read a lot faster than I can write a review, or books I thought would be good simply weren’t. Instead I’ve decided to keep a list of the books I’ve read and recommend on my website and Instagram. You’re not likely to find books on this list that are popular self-help books found everywhere books are sold. There’s a very simple reason for this – many of them are not that good. I’m wary of books that make promises, claim to be new and improved techniques to better lives, or oversimplify deeply held emotional wounds. I know because I’ve read a lot of them.
What you will find on this list are both fiction and non-fiction books with a variety of themes and topics. Some will be self-help, some educational, and others may simply be nice reads. I hope you find in this list a book that has meaning for you.