In the book, ‘Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel’, Jane Smiley wrote that “Many people, myself among them, feel better at the mere sight of a book.”
But what is it about a book that gives one that allure? Reading nonfiction is easy to understand; we learn facts from nonfiction. But, if your idea of bliss is a good novel, have you ever wondered why you are willing — and indeed eager — to spend so much of your precious time reading made-up stories about fictional characters? “It’s entertainment,” you might reply, “It’s a way to escape from the realities of daily stresses.” Therapeutic it maybe — but hardly the stuff of serious therapy, surely? Think again.
The idea of reading as a healing activity is not new; apparently, King Ramses II of Egypt had a special chamber for his books; above the door were the words “House of Healing for the Soul.” Medical professionals and psychologists have been “prescribing” books for their patients to read for a hundred years or more. But it was more as an adjunct to other treatments rather than a treatment in itself.
What exactly is Bibliotherapy?
The term Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses literature to support good mental health, is a versatile and cost-effective treatment option often adapted or used to supplement other types of therapy. When applied in a therapeutic context, bibliotherapy can comprise both fictional and non-fictional materials.
Bibliotherapy has also been explained as “a process of dynamic interaction between the personality of the reader and literature — interaction which may be utilised for personal assessment, adjustment, and growth.”
Bibliotherapy is often combined with writing therapy. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression. A 3 year follow up study has suggested that the results are long-lasting.
History and Development of Bibliotherapy.
Storytelling, creative writing, and reading have long been recognized for their therapeutic potential. The use of literature as a healing method dates back to ancient Greece when Grecian libraries were seen as sacred places with curative powers. In the early nineteenth century, physicians like Benjamin Rush and Minson Galt II began to use bibliotherapy as an intervention technique in rehabilitation and the treatment of mental health issues. During World Wars I and II, bibliotherapy was used to help to return soldiers deal with both physical and emotional concerns.
Although officially, It was first used by Samuel Crothers. In 1916 an article published in The Atlantic Monthly, Samuel Carothers defined bibliotherapy as the process of using books to teach those receiving medical care about their conditions. Bibliotherapy’s use expanded further in the 1950s when Carolyn Shrodes developed a theoretical model based on the premise that people are greatly influenced by the characters they identify within stories.
Today, bibliotherapy is employed by educators, helping professionals, librarians, and even parents. Its versatility and adaptability make it an excellent supplement to self-improvement of all kinds.
How is Bibliotherapy used?
Although bibliotherapists sometimes prescribe philosophy, poetry, or nonfiction books, novels are more common. Why is fiction more therapeutic? Research has shown that literary fiction enhances our ability to empathize with others; to put ourselves into another’s shoes; to become more intuitive about other people’s feelings (as well as our own), and to self-reflect on our problems as we read about and empathize with a fictional character who is facing similar problems.
When we find ourselves weeping with (or for) the character in the story, we are also weeping for ourselves — it can be a sort of catharsis. When our character finds happiness in the end, we think that, perhaps, we can as well. When the story drops us into a hurricane, we learn from it — and if we are ever faced with a real one, it will not be an entirely new experience. We may discover ourselves coping in ways that we can only have learned from that novel we read years before.
So why is reading a book more therapeutic than watching the film of the same story? A good film may, of course, also have therapeutic properties, just like a good book. But in general, our minds and our imaginations are more engaged when reading because we need to fill in so much that is not specifically put into words.
The approach may be incorporated into one or more of the following ways:
- Prescriptive bibliotherapy: It is also referred to as self-help, involves the use of specific reading materials and workbooks to address a variety of mental health concerns.
- Books on Prescription is a program: Wherein reading materials targeting specific mental health needs are “prescribed” by mental health professionals, who might use resources such as the Bibliotherapy Education Project to find the appropriate books.
- Creative bibliotherapy: It utilizes imaginative literature — novels, short stories, poetry, plays, and biographies — to improve psychological well-being. This method is most beneficial when people are able to identify with a character, experience an emotional catharsis as a result of this identification, and then gain insight about their own life experiences.
Is Bibliotherapy effective?
Most professionals agree reading is a productive activity that can promote good mental health, as reading has been shown to increase empathy, sharpen the mind, and impact behaviour.
One study found children who read the Harry Potter series were more accepting of certain minority groups, and psychologists from the New School for Social Research determined fiction improved a reader’s overall ability to discern and interpret emotion in others. Moreover, bibliotherapy is believed to be one cost-effective and versatile option for the treatment of several mental health issues.
Do you need a Bibliotherapy?
Most of us, when reading for recreation, like to choose our own reading material. Yet there is a danger of becoming too narrow and sticking with what we know, simply because we don’t know that other books exist — books that we would not only adore, but also that we would find stimulating, challenging, and therapeutic.
This is where a bibliotherapist comes into the picture. Like any specialist, they are experts on books and have almost certainly read more extensively, more widely, and more challengingly than most of us.
Accordingly, if you are struggling with something minute in your life which might be cured by meditation instead, try to read books on diverse genres to calm yourself, as books will enhance your knowledge in addition to soothing your mind. Assess what you like, why you like it and how a specific piece makes you feel. And moreover, don’t judge yourself for not completing a book and don’t guilt yourself into completing it.
Besides, If something is troubling you excessively then think about a one-off bibliotherapy session — followed by months or years of reading.
So this was all about Bibliotherapy and significance of reading. I hope that you don’t ignore your mental health (yes it’s important!). And keep reading! 🧡
