Terms: Bibliotherapy

Core Concepts

  • Bibliotherapy –
    • the use of books and reading materials for therapeutic purposes, such as promoting emotional healing, self-understanding, or personal growth.
    • The use of selected reading materials as therapeutic adjuvants in medicine and psychiatry; also guidance in the solution of personal problems through directed reading. (AHIL Quarterly, Summer 1966, p. 18.)
    • The duality of a guided therapy by a medical or psychiatric professional vs. directing the reader to a selection of books on an issue continues. The resources offered on this page address the directed reading aspect of bibliotherapy, which may distinguished from the more general readers’ advisory by the presence of the “problem” to be resolved through reading. (ALA, 2012)
  • Books on Prescription: Links health professionals and librarians: a medical practitioner recommends a book to patients with the book details as a ‘book prescription’. The patient then takes the book prescription to a local library to source and borrow the book. Libraries participating in BoP schemes have specially developed book collections of appropriate titles for people with a broad range of clinical conditions, including depression, anxiety, bereavement, eating disorders and physical illness. (from Bibliotherapy Australia)
  • Developmental bibliotherapy – guided reading of traditional literary works, such as fiction, poetry, or drama. Conducted by bibliotherapists…sessions discuss a single text at a time – a single poem or short story. (Ward and Allred, p. 5). Generally is used in educational settings.
  • Clinical bibliotherapy – the use of mostly nonfiction reading material that healthcare professionals such as psychologists, licensed therapists, and clinical social workers recommend to their patients to complement in-person treatment. (Ward and Allred, p. 4).
  • Creative bibliotherapy: predominantly uses fiction and poetry to provide a less traditional form of therapy, often through facilitated reading groups. Research supports the belief that when someone connects with a particular story they can often begin to better connect with their lives, personally and emotionally. Focuses on such challenges without attempting to physically cure specific symptoms or disease, instead developing an awareness of how a person thinks about them. (from Bibliotherapy Australia)
  • Informal bibliotherapy – when book lovers discuss and recommend titles to each other than have helped them deal with an issue (Ward and Allred, p. 6).
  • Institutional bibliotherapy – structured reading programs used in settings like prisons, hospitals, or schools.
  • Literatherapy – Another term for the practice of using literature as a therapeutic tool.
  • Reader’s Advisory -More traditional in the library; finding the right book for the right person. Suggesting books for recreational reading, fun, or self-education, based on the appeal factors of the book (see Saricks, 2005).
  • Therapeutic story / healing story – a story specifically designed or selected to help readers process experiences.
  • Therapeutic Storytelling: A broader term encompassing the use of stories to promote healing and growth.

The Bibliotherapeutic Process

  • The Four-Step Bibliotherapeutic Process (Hynes and Hynes-Berry, Chapter 3)
    • Recognition – the reader is caught by something in the reading
    • Examination – looking into the issues and the personal feel-ingresponse to them
    • Juxtaposition – a deeper level of understanding as the person considers new feelings or ideas that emerge
    • Self-application – integration of the impressions and insights that emerged
    • Catalyst – the literature that is used during bibliotherapy. It is neutral until it makes an impression on the reader (the respondent).
  • Catharsis – emotional release or relief achieved through reading and engaging with literature.
  • Insight/Universalization – new understanding about oneself or one’s situation gained through reflection on the reading.
  • Projection – attributing one’s own feelings or problems onto characters in the reading.
  • Guided reading – a structured approach where a facilitator (librarian, teacher, counselor) helps the reader engage with the text.
  • Self-help reading – independent use of informational or prescriptive books (often nonfiction, like cognitive-behavioral workbooks).

Practitioners & Roles

  • Bibliotherapist – a trained professional (sometimes a librarian, counselor, or educator) who facilitates bibliotherapy sessions.
  • Facilitator – the person guiding discussions around the text (does not necessarily need formal therapy credentials, e.g., teachers, librarians).
  • Participant / Reader – the person engaging in bibliotherapy for personal growth or healing.

References


“Bibliotherapy”, American Library Association, December 17, 2012. https://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/bibliotherapy (Accessed August 28, 2025) Document ID: 2039d395-cf01-4383-9ff7-e94dc84ee4f0

Hynes, A. and Hynes-Berry, M. (2012). Biblio/Poetry Therapy. The Interactive Process: a handbook. North Star Press.

Saricks, J. (2005). Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library, 3rd Ed. American Library Association.

Ward, J. and Allred, N. (2024). The Librarian’s Guide to Bibliotherapy. ALA Editions.