Bibliotherapy

Bibliotherapy (also referred to as "book therapy" poetry therapy or therapeutic storytelling) is a creative arts therapies modality that involves storytelling or the reading of specific texts with the purpose of healing. It uses an individual's relationship to the content of books and poetry and other written words as therapy. Bibliotherapy is often combined with writing therapy. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression.[1] A 3 year follow up study has suggested that the results are long-lasting.[2]

Bibliotherapy
MeSHD001638

History

Bibliotherapy is an old concept in library science. According to the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, in his monumental work Bibliotheca historica, there was a phrase above the entrance to the royal chamber where books were stored by King Ramses II of Egypt. Considered to be the oldest known library motto in the world, ψῡχῆς ἰατρεῖον on, is translated: "the house of healing for the soul".[3] Galen, the extraordinary philosopher and physician to Marcus Aurelius of Rome, maintained a medical library in the first century A.D., used not only by himself but by the staff of the Sanctuary Asclepion, a Roman spa famous for its therapeutic waters and considered to be one of the first hospital centers in the world.[4] As far back as 1272, the Koran was prescribed reading in the Al-Mansur Hospital in Cairo as medical treatment.[5]

In the early nineteenth century, Benjamin Rush favored the use of literature in hospitals for both the "amusement and instruction of patients".[6] By the middle of the century, Minson Galt II wrote on the uses of bibliotherapy in mental institutions, and by 1900 libraries were an important part of European psychiatric institutions.

After the term bibliotherapy was coined by Samuel McChord Crothers in an August 1916 Atlantic Monthly article, it eventually found its way into the medical lexicon.[7] During World War I, the Library War Service stationed librarians in military hospitals, where they dispensed books to patients and developed the emerging "science" of bibliotherapy with hospital physicians. When they returned from the war, they tried to implement these ideas in hospital libraries.[8] E. Kathleen Jones, the editor of the book series Hospital Libraries, was the library administrator for the McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. This influential work was first published in 1923, and then updated in 1939, and then 1953. Pioneer librarian Sadie Peterson Delaney used bibliotherapy in her work at the VA Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama from 1924 to her death in 1958. Elizabeth Pomeroy, director of the Veterans Administration Library Service, published the results of her research in 1937 on the efficacy of bibliotherapy at VA hospitals.[6] The United Kingdom, beginning in the 1930s, also began to show growth in the use in of reading therapy in hospital libraries. Charles Hagberg-Wright, librarian of the London Library, speaking at the 1930 British Empire Red Cross Conference, spoke about the importance of bibliotherapy as part of "curative medicine" in hospitals. In addition, reports from the 1930 Public Health Conference about bibliotherapy were included in the British journal Lancet.[9] By the 1920s, there were also training programs in bibliotherapy. One of the first to offer such training was the School of Library Science at Western Reserve University followed by a program at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.[6]

With hospitals taking the lead, bibliotherapy principles and practice developed in the United States. In the United Kingdom some felt that bibliotherapy lagged behind the US and Joyce Coates, writing in the Library Association Record, felt that "the possibilities of bibliotherapy have yet to be fully explored".[9] In 1966, the Association of Hospital and Institution Libraries, a division of the American Library Association, issued a working definition of bibliotherapy in recognition of its growing influence. Then, in the 1970s, Arleen McCarty Hynes, a proponent for the use of bibliotherapy, created the "Bibliotherapy Round Table" which sponsored lectures and publication dedicated to the practice.[10]

Changing definitions

In its most basic form, bibliotherapy is using books to aid people in solving the issues that they may be facing at a particular time.[11] It consists of selecting reading material relevant to a client's life situation. Bibliotherapy has also been explained as "a process of dynamic interaction between the personality of the reader and literature - interaction which may be utilized for personal assessment, adjustment, and growth."[11] Bibliotherapy for adults is a form of self-administered treatment in which structured materials provide a means to alleviate distress.[7] The concept of the treatment is based on the human inclination to identify with others through their expressions in literature and art. For instance, a grieving child who reads, or is read a story about another child who has lost a parent may feel less alone in the world.

The concept of bibliotherapy has widened over time, to include self-help manuals without therapeutic intervention, or a therapist "prescribing" a movie that might provide needed catharsis to a client.[12]

The Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science (2011) defines bibliotherapy as:[13]

The use of books selected on the basis of content in a planned reading program designed to facilitate the recovery of patients suffering from mental illness or emotional disturbance. Ideally, the process occurs in three phases: personal identification of the reader with a particular character in the recommended work, resulting in psychological catharsis, which leads to rational insight concerning the relevance of the solution suggested in the text to the reader's own experience. Assistance of a trained psychotherapist is advised.

Clinical use

Although the term "bibliotherapy" was first coined by Samuel Crothers in 1916, the use of books to change behavior and to reduce distress has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages. When applied in a therapeutic context, bibliotherapy can comprise both fictional and non-fictional materials. Fictional bibliotherapy (e.g., novels, poetry) is a dynamic process, where material is actively interpreted in light of the reader's circumstances. From a psychodynamic perspective, fictional materials are believed to be effective through the processes of identification, catharsis and insight. Through identification with a character in the story the reader gains an alternative position from which to view their own issues. By empathizing with the character the client undergoes a form of catharsis through gaining hope and releasing emotional tension, which consequently leads to insights and behavioral change.[7] Working with an imaginative journey and a specific selection of metaphors,[14] proponents claim that a therapeutic story approach has the potential to shift an out of balance behavior or situation back towards wholeness or balance. A patient might also find it easier to talk about his issues if he and the therapist can pretend that they are talking about the character's issues. Proponents suggest that the story form offers a healing medium that allows the listener to embark on an imaginative journey, rather than being lectured or directly addressed about the issue.[15]

In the 1980s and early 1990s, bibliotherapy was a widely used but poorly researched therapeutic model. However, numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have documented the positive effects of bibliotherapy for clinical conditions such as deliberate self-harm, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and bulimia nervosa and insomnia. Research also supports bibliotherapy as an intervention for a wide array of psychological issues including emotional disorders, alcohol addiction, and sexual dysfunction. In a recent review of psychotherapeutic treatments for older depressed people, bibliotherapy emerged as an effective intervention.[7]

The use of bibliotherapy in mental health programs, including those for substance abuse, has been shown to be beneficial to patients in the United Kingdom where it is a popular resource.[16] Researchers have found that bibliotherapy can successfully complement treatment programs and reduce recidivism.[17]

In the United States a researcher from the University of South Florida published a study seeking to revise the collection development policy for a bibliotherapy library used by the residents at a women's AOD treatment center in Tampa, Florida. The research was conducted by Peter Cannon as part of his PhD on rhetoric and reading therapies. Preliminary findings suggest this new model can offer the residents a new bibliotherapy track that employs less emotionally triggering texts that will be useful for treatment.[18]

Treatment tracks

Bibliotherapy can be performed using affective treatment techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and visual-based materials. Affective bibliotherapy relies upon fiction which can aid participants. By empathizing with a story's character, the client undergoes a form of catharsis by gaining hope and releasing emotional tension. There can also be a connection made between the circumstances in a story and the reader's own personal issues. This, consequently, leads to insights and behavioral change. Bibliotherapy using CBT relies mainly on self-help books which work to correct negative behaviors by offering alternative, positive actions. Visual-based materials, such as graphic novels, utilize both affective and CBT techniques.

Cognitive treatment

The gains achieved in cognitive bibliotherapy illustrate that the most important element in cognitive bibliotherapy is content of the program and not the individual interactions with a therapist.[19] Bibliotherapy using CBT have been empirically tested the most and directed CBT appears to be the most prevalent methodology in the literature.[20] The selection of CBT books is important since there are many on the market that purport to help. Pardeck's analysis on choosing books is quite instructive and much of his criteria mirror what librarians teach in information literacy. These include the authority of the author on the topic, the type of empirical support offered for treatment claims, the existence of studies testing its clinical efficacy, and a comparative review of other books.

Affective treatment

There is not as much research on using fiction in bibliotherapy when compared to cognitive self-help books.[21] The recent work of Shechtman has been important in investigating the use of affective literature for bibliotherapy. In her work on counseling with aggressive boys, Shechtman discusses the deficits these children exhibit and describe affect disorders with symptoms of emotional arousal, low levels of empathy, and difficulties in self-expression. Using integrative treatment whereby the patient explores the problem, gains insight, and commits to change, Shechtman found that using affective bibliotherapy techniques achieved therapeutic change while indicating gains in empathy and insight.[22]

Visual treatment and graphic novels

In the simplest sense, graphic novels are long-form comic books, usually 100 pages or more in length. Application of graphic novels in this context will allow people struggling with literacy to have better access to materials. Dozens of graphic novels have been published over the last decade that address public health topics, such as depression, drug abuse, and PTSD. Public health based comic books originated in the 1940s. The earliest public health comics averaged around twelve pages and were aimed at preventive instruction for children. Over the last fifteen years, however, the genre has evolved and public health graphic novels and are now commonly 150 pages long and focus more on adult struggles with physical or mental illness.[23] This change has gotten the attention of medical professionals who gather and evaluate these materials. Currently, a group of physicians, professors, artists, and bioethicists run the website Graphic Medicine and hosts an annual conference to discuss the use of graphic novels and comic books in health.[24] There is a wide range of research that indicates graphic novels are an effective tool for people struggling with literacy and communication problems.[25] They also have been shown to be effective with populations that have trouble with traditional literacy instruction.[26] Resistance to learning can take many forms, some of which can be seen in populations involved with the criminal justice system. Graphic novels are most often used to entice the group referred to as "reluctant readers", people who have abandoned reading for pleasure. While this group may be literate in the basic sense, research shows that people who read for pleasure continuously improve vocabulary and language skills, skills that can help people rehabilitate after incarceration. Research shows graphic novels are of use to students with traditional learning disabilities, like dyslexia and also have been shown to be effective when used in a bibliotherapeutic context to assist people who suffer from mental illness in explaining their own struggles to others. Graphic novels have also been described by professionals in the field as especially apt for portraying the struggles associated with mental illness.

Older adults

Bibliotherapy has been studied by Jennie Bolitho (2011) in relationship to libraries, health and social connection for the elderly. Bolitho set up a pilot reading program where she read the text aloud to a group of participants at a local aged care hostel. (She described "being read to as part of the nurturing experience".) Her evaluation at the end of the 12-week program described all responses as positive and participants commented that they "look forward to the group as it made them think for themselves and gave them something to think about aside from their ailments and the monotony of the day" (p. 90).

Use in children's therapy

Bibliotherapy has not been vastly researched to ensure that it will be successful for all students. It has many drawbacks, that include unavailable literature on certain topics that students may be struggling with, many students not being ready to face their issues and read, and students and parents defensively implementing the therapy.[27] The resistance of using bibliotherapy is based on a lack of assertiveness, negative attitudes, anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunctions, and negative behaviors.[27] There has been advocacy for reading books containing difficult themes in advance, rather than in response to a parent or teacher identifying a specific issue in a child's life.[28] The major issue that lies behind bibliotherapy is the lack of research that has been conducted on this therapy device.

Advantages of bibliotherapy include teaching students to solve problems, help students cope with teasing, name calling, mockery, fears, sexuality changes, anxiety, and death.[27] Despite the limited research on bibliotherapy and its effects, many teachers have shown improved achievement and self-concept.

Implementation

Bibliotherapy can consist solely of reading, or it can be complemented with discussion or play activity. A child might be asked to draw a scene from the book or asked whether commonality is felt with a particular character in the book. The book can be used to draw out a child on a subject (s)he has been hesitant to discuss.

Of necessity, bibliotherapy originally used existing texts. Literature that touched on the particular subject relevant to the child provided the source material. (For example, Romeo and Juliet is typically read in 8th or 9th grade as Romeo is 15 and Juliet is 13; students at that age can identify with them.) Recently it has become possible to find texts targeted to the situation; e.g. many of The Berenstain Bears books target particular behaviors and responses to certain situations.

There is a division of opinion as to whether bibliotherapy needs to take place in a therapeutic environment, with therapists specially trained in the treatment reinforcing the idea for fear of the damage that could be done even by the selection of the wrong text. Other psychologists see no reason why children can't benefit from their parents selecting meaningful reading material.

Many therapeutic stories are written for specific individual needs, but practitioners have also used them to build psychological resilience when group and communities face challenges. For example, therapeutic storytelling can play a role in creating inclusive classroom and work communities.[29] Therapeutic stories are also sometimes referred to as "healing stories". In the US, the National Storytelling Network has a special interest group called the Healing Story Alliance.

In the classroom

Implementing bibliotherapy in an elementary classroom can be very beneficial to both the students and the teacher. Teachers who use bibliotherapy in their classroom also learn much about the children they teach.[30] Teachers as practitioners of bibliotherapy select appropriate reading materials and match them to the needs of individual students to assist them in the development of self-awareness, problem-solving skills, perspective-taking, and understanding of problems. The materials may include "any literacy activity, including reading (fiction, nonfiction, or poetry), creative writing, or storytelling."[31] Teachers that select appropriate literature for their classroom needs may provide a child with a "character in a story to help the child understand himself[30] Classroom story time and a guided discussion allows students to "become aware of problems of other children and develop empathy".[30]

In the article "Read two books and write me in the morning",[32] the authors highlight the fact that teachers are an integral part of a student's therapeutic team. It is the teacher who may be the first person to notice that something is troubling a child. They also note that teachers have been referred to as carryover agents, who carry out recommendations from other professionals who have suggested accommodations necessary to ensure a particular student's well-being or success in their classroom. In inclusive classrooms the teacher and the whole class play a role in meeting directly or indirectly, the needs of students with exceptionalities. Bibliotherapy can help the students in the class to learn coping skills that will help them deal with the social and emotional challenges that may occur.[32] Books and reading are an integral part of classroom life. Through books, "children are able to see reflections of themselves, their times, their country, their concerns... well-written realistic fiction will always help readers gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others."[32]

Stages for teachers

Bibliotherapy has three recognized stages: (1) identification, (2) catharsis, and (3) insight. Identification is when a reader associates themselves with the character or situation in the literary work. Catharsis is when the reader shares many of the same thoughts and feelings of the characters in the literary work, and insight is when the reader realizes that they relate to the character or situation and learn to deal more effectively with their own personal issues.[11] Literary pieces allow teachers to identify for their class, or an individual student, a particular issue which they are dealing with directly or indirectly. In a class with a special needs student, for example, books featuring a character with the same needs will help students experience living with a chronic condition; through a guided discussion, they will able to verbalize their thoughts and concerns.[33] This exercise will offer insight into the issue of how to help their classmate effectively.[34] Bibliotherapy "does not prescribe meanings, nor is it a form of direct teaching; it is more an invitation and permission giving to children to unveil wisdom and insight that might otherwise be squelched."[31]

Teachers who practice or need to use bibliotherapy can find connections to their state or provincial guidelines. A common challenge for classroom teachers is finding the right book, and although some annotated bibliographies are available online and in curriculum publications, not all issues are touched upon.[32] A teacher may have to find their book. The following evaluation framework is suggested:

"Is the story simple, clear, brief, non repetitious, and believable? Is it at an appropriate reading level and developmental level? Does the story fit with relevant feelings, needs, interests, and goals? Does it demonstrate cultural diversity, gender inclusivity, and sensitivity to aggression? Do characters show coping skills and does the problem situation show resolution?"[32]

Steps for use

There are steps that make bibliotherapy a more effective solution for dealing with the issues that a student may be facing, including developing support, trust, and confidence with the student that is suffering from an issue, identifying other school personnel that could aid in implementing the therapy, seeking support from the student's parents or guardians, defining the issue that the student is facing and why the teacher wants to help solve it, creating goals that may help the student overcome the issue, researching books that may help with the specific problem, introducing the book to all the people that will be involved, incorporating reading activities, and evaluating the effects and successes that the book may have had on the student.[27]

gollark: Oh bee, networkoids.
gollark: Oh bee, networkoids.
gollark: Kind of.
gollark: Kind of.
gollark: Iff you were apioforms - which you are not.

References
  1. David Burns (1999). "Introduction". Feeling Good. pp. pxvi–xxxii.
  2. Smith, N.M.; Floyd, M.R.; Jamison, C. & Scogin, F. (1997). "Three year follow up of bibliotherapy for depression". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 65 (2): 324–327. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.65.2.324. PMID 9086697.
  3. Lutz, C. (1978). "The oldest Library Motto: ψῡχῆς Ἰατρεῖον". The Library Quarterly. 48 (1). JSTOR 4306897.
  4. Basbanes, N. (2001). Patience and fortitude. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060196950.
  5. Rubin, R.J. (1978). Using bibliotherapy: A guide to theory and practice. Phoenix, Oryx Press. ISBN 9780912700076.
  6. McCulliss, D. (2012). "Bibliotherapy: Historical and research perspectives". Journal of Poetry Therapy. 25 (1): 23–38. doi:10.1080/08893675.2012.654944.
  7. McKenna, G.; Hevey, D. & Martin, E. (2010). "Patients' and providers' perspectives on bibliotherapy in primary care" (PDF). Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. 17 (6): 497–509. doi:10.1002/cpp.679. PMID 20146202.
  8. Mahoney, Mary M. (2017). "From Library War Service to Science: Bibliotherapy in World War I". Books as Medicine: Studies in Reading, Its History, and the Enduring Belief in Its Power to Heal.
  9. Clarke, J.M. (1984). "Reading therapy – an outline of its growth in the UK". In Jean M. Clarke; Eileen Bostle (eds.). Reading Therapy. Lindon: Library Association. pp. 1–15. ISBN 9780853656371.
  10. American Library Association (n.d.). "Bibliotherapy".
  11. Lehr, Fran. (1981). Bibliotherapy. Journal of Reading, 25(1), 76–79
  12. Pardeck, J.T. (1993). Using Bibliotherapy in Clinical Practice: A Guide to Self-Help Books. Westport: Greenwood Press.
  13. Joan M. Reitz. "Bibliotherapy". Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  14. "The Mystery And Magic Of Metaphor". National Storytelling Network's Healing Story Alliance Special Interest Group. 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  15. "The power of a story". Ballina Shire Advocate. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  16. Fanner, D.; Urquhart, C. (2008). "Bibliotherapy for mental health service users Part 1: a systematic review". Health Information & Libraries Journal. 25 (4): 237–252. doi:10.1111/j.1471-1842.2008.00821.x. PMID 19076670.
  17. Schutt, R. K.; Deng, X. & Stoehr, T. (2013). "Using bibliotherapy to enhance probation and reduce recidivism". Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. 52 (3): 181–197. doi:10.1080/10509674.2012.751952.
  18. Cannon, Peter (2018). "Rethinking bibliotherapy: A neurorhetoric narratology model for addiction treatment". Health Information & Libraries Journal. 35 (4): 331–335. doi:10.1111/hir.12239. PMID 30499173.
  19. Cuijpers, P.; Donker, T.; van Straten, A.; Li, J. & Andersson, G. (2010). "Is guided self-help as effective as face-to-face psychotherapy for depression and anxiety disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative outcome studies" (PDF). Psychological Medicine. 40 (12): 1943–1957. doi:10.1017/S0033291710000772. PMID 20406528.
  20. Pardeck, J. T. (1991). "Using books in clinical practice". Psychotherapy in Private Practice. 9 (3): 105–119.
  21. Detrixhe, J. J. (2010). "Souls in jeopardy: questions and innovations for bibliotherapy with fiction". Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development. 49 (1): 58. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1939.2010.tb00087.x.
  22. Shechtman, Z. & Nir-Shfrir, R. (2008). "The Effect of Affective Bibliotherapy on Clients' Functioning in Group Therapy". International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. 58 (1): 103–117. doi:10.1521/ijgp.2008.58.1.103. PMID 18211216.
  23. Schneider, E (2014). "Quantifying and Visualizing the History of Public Health Comics". A session given at the 2014 iConference, Berlin, Germany.
  24. "Graphic Medicine".
  25. Schneider, R. (September 6, 2005). "Graphic novels boost interest in reading among students with disabilities". Indiana University. Archived from the original on January 9, 2006.
  26. Snowball, C. (2005). "Teenage reluctant readers and graphic novels" (PDF). Young Adult Library Services. 3 (4): 43–45.
  27. Prater, Mary Anne; Johnstun, Marissa; Dyches, Tina Taylor & Johnstun, Marion (2006). "Using Children's Books as Bibliotherapy for At-Risk Students: A Guide for Teachers". Preventing School Failure. 50 (4): 5–13. doi:10.3200/PSFL.50.4.5-10.
  28. Maeve Visser Knoth (May 24, 2006). "What Ails Bibliotherapy?". The Horn Book. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  29. The Role of Bibliotherapy and Therapeutic Storytelling in Creating Inclusive Classroom Communities, 2017, IGI Global, Chapter 16, page 37
  30. Ouzts, D. T. & Mastrion, K. J (May 1999). "Bibliotherapy: Changing attitudes with Literature". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  31. Berns, C. F. (2004). "Bibliotherapy: Using books to help bereaved children". OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying. 48 (4): 321–336. doi:10.2190/361D-JHD8-RNJT-RYJV.
  32. Maich, K. & Kean, S. (2004). "Read two books and write me in the morning! bibliotherapy for social emotional intervention in the inclusive classroom" (PDF). TEACHING Exceptional Children Plus. 1 (2).
  33. Amer, K. (1999). "Bibliotherapy: Using fiction to help children in two populations discuss feelings". Pediatric Nursing. 25 (1): 91. PMID 10335256.
  34. Iaquinta, A. & Hipsky, S. (2006). "Practical bibliotherapy strategies for the inclusive elementary school classroom". Early Childhood Education Journal. 34 (4): 209–213. doi:10.1007/s10643-006-0128-5.

Bibliography

Further reading
  • Bibliotherapy: The Right Book at the Right Time by Claudia E. Cornett, published in 1980.
  • Creative Bibliotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Systematic Review by Calla E.Y. Glavin and Paul Montgomery. Published in 2017 in Journal of Poetry Therapy, 30(2).
  • The Impact of Bibliotherapy Superheroes on Youth Who Experience Parental Absence by Nurit Betzalel and Zipora Schechtman. Published in 2017 in School Psychology International, 38(5).
  • The Long Term Effects of Bibliotherapy in Depression Treatment: Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials by M.R. Gualano, F. Bert, M. Martorana, et al. Published in 2017 in Clinical Psychology Review, 58.
  • Using Books in Clinical Social Work Practice: A Guide to Bibliotherapy by John T. Pardeck, published in 2013.
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