Whitefish Bay Public Library: Books As Therapy

Whitefish Bay WI

13 August, 2021

6:32 AM

Description

Press release from Whitefish Bay Public Library: Laura Reilly August 12, 2021 Can fiction books really help you feel better? Using books as therapy has actually been around since the ancient Greeks, it was used after World War l and World War ll to help returning soldiers deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, and is currently used in educational settings as therapy for school-aged children.  While non-fiction, self-help books are commonly sought after by individuals looking for help dealing with a specific issue, fiction books are quickly becoming a source of therapy for these same concerns. Bibliotherapy, more commonly known as Book Therapy, is a form of therapy that promotes the reading of books to improve mental health. Book therapy helps individuals increase their self-awareness and self-esteem while also helping to deal with mild forms of depression, anxiety, addiction, and bullying. Book therapy uses fiction books to help the reader relate to other people with similar conditions by reading about how those characters overcame their struggles. Bibliotherapy can be used in conjunction with regular individual therapy to increase positive results or used in a group setting, like a book club, where members can discuss the book on an informal basis. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Stout Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Starfish by Lisa Fipps Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller https://www.tolstoytherapy.com/bibliotherapy-recommendations/ https://www.readbrightly.com/kid-approved-middle-grade-books-mental-health/ This press release was produced by Whitefish Bay Public Library. The views expressed here are the author's own.