Bibliotherapy - The Power of Books in Healing - Hanem Ibrahim

8/14/2019 Bibliotherapy - The Power of Books in Healing - Hanem Ibrahim

1/4

Hanem Ibrahim - The power

of book paper 1

Bibliotherapy

The power of books in healing

Submitted by

Hanem A. Ibrahim

ILS 518- Fall 2009

Dr. Elsie Okobi

Date of submission

October 24, 2009


2/4


of book paper 2

Introduction

Reading is power. The written word has a magic power on readers, it

could change their lives. Healing through the written word also happens

when people learn about themselves and open themselves to the healingpower within a book. Thats what I am going to discuss through this paper.

Ill discuss using books as a cure or treatment through whats called

bibliotherapy. In this paper well have the answers for those questions.

What is bibliotherapy? Who uses Bibliotherapy? Why they use it? And how

they use it?

What is Bibliotherapy?

Bibliotherapy derives from two Greek words biblion meaning book

and therapeia" meaning "a service which used in English to mean servicefor patient or treatment from disease. Bibliotherapy as defines by Merriam

online dictionary) means the use of reading materials for help in solving

personal problems or for psychiatric therapy to cure or treat some kind of

psychological problems (Merriam, 2009). The idea of healing through books

is not a new one--it can be traced far back in history, from the days of the

first libraries in Greece (Aiex, 2009).

Using books in therapy ( Who uses Bibliotherapy and Why? )

Freud (1856-1939) developed the psychoanalytic theory through hiswork with mentally ill patients. Many psychoanalytic theorists believe that a

behavior is just a surface characteristic and for them to fully understand the

behavior they must look at the symbolic meaning and the inner workings of a

persons mind (The International Child, March2003). So the mental health

therapists use bibliotherapy trying to work with patients mind. The use of

books in healing, however, has been interpreted differently by classical

scholars, physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses, parents, teachers,

librarians, and counselors. There is, in fact, confusion in determining the

dividing line between reading guidance and bibliotherapy (Smith, 2003). And

the vast amount of professional literature that is available on bibliotherapy

naturally mirrors the point of view of the helping professional who wrote it

and the field in which he or she is an expert.

There are many problems could be treated using guided list of books

such as eating disorders, anxiety and mood disorders, agoraphobia, alcohol


3/4


of book paper 3

and substance abuse, and stress-related physical disorders.(Encyclopedia of

Mental, 2009).

A study by Adams, S., & Pitre, N. (2000) Showed that Sixty-eight

percent (68%) of the respondents therapist indicated that they used

bibliotherapy. The most common reason for recommending books was toencourage self-help. There was a significant relation between greater

counseling experience and increased use of bibliotherapy. Most therapists

recommend books to their clients, but there is little empirical evidence of

efficacy. Counselors should review the books recommended and discuss

them with the client. Client opinion should be solicited and effectiveness

measured.

The goal of bibliotherapy is to broaden and deepen the client's

understanding of the particular problem that requires treatment.Bibliotherapy is effective only if it actively engages the client's desire for and

belief in recovery.The written materials may educate the client about the

disorder itself or be used to increase the client's acceptance of a proposed

treatment. Many people find that the opportunity to read about their problem

outside the therapist's office facilitates active participation in their treatment

and promotes a stronger sense of personal responsibility for recovery. In

addition, many are relieved to find that others have had the same disorder or

problem and have coped successfully with it or recovered from it. People

who use self-help manuals without professional guidance run the risk of

misapplying techniques or misdiagnosing their problems. (Encyclopedia ofMental, 2009).

How bibliotherapy has been used?

The basic procedures in conducting bibliotherapy are: (1) motivate the

individual or individuals with introductory activities; (2) provide time for

reading the material; (3) allow incubation time; (4) provide follow-up

discussion time, using questions that will lead persons from literal recall of

information through interpretation, application, analysis, synthesis, and

evaluation of that information; and (5) conduct evaluation and direct the

individual or individuals toward closure--this involves both evaluation by the

practitioner and self-evaluation by the individual (Aiex, 2009)

Conc lusion


4/4


of book paper 4

Bibliotherapy is a potentially powerful method for helping some patients with

mental or emotional troubles; its a science and an art. In order to establish a

strong effective bibliotherapy program, practitioners must present the

guided procedures that insure the fine results with those patients. The

written word has a great powerful impact on people, so they must always bealert to the limitations of bibliotherapy as well as the benefits. .

Reference

1. Adams, S., & Pitre, N. (2000). Who Uses Bibliotherapy and Why? A

Survey From an Underserviced Area. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry,

45(7), 645-649. http://search.ebscohost.com

2. Aiex, Nola Kortner(2009) Bibliotherapy. ERIC Clearinghouse on

Reading, English, and Communication Digest #82. Retrieved on

October 24, 2009. From :http://www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d82.html

3. Bibliotherapy. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved

October 23, 2009, From: http://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/bibliotherapy

4.Bibliotherapy. (2009) In Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders RetrievedOctober 23, 2009. From http://www.minddisorders.com/A-

Br/Bibliotherapy.html

5. Smith , Carl B. (2003)The Clearinghouse on Reading, English, and

Communication is an information repository of the Indiana University

School of Education. Retrieved on October 24, 2009.

From :http://www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d82.html

6. The International Child and Youth Care (March 2003) Issue 50 .- online

accessed on October 24, 2009 . From : http://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-

online/cycol-0303-bibliotheraphy.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d82.htmlhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliotherapyhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliotherapyhttp://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Bibliotherapy.htmlhttp://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Bibliotherapy.htmlhttp://education.indiana.edu/http://education.indiana.edu/http://www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d82.htmlhttp://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0303-bibliotheraphy.htmlhttp://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0303-bibliotheraphy.htmlhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliotherapyhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliotherapyhttp://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Bibliotherapy.htmlhttp://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Bibliotherapy.htmlhttp://education.indiana.edu/http://education.indiana.edu/http://www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d82.htmlhttp://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0303-bibliotheraphy.htmlhttp://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0303-bibliotheraphy.htmlhttp://www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d82.html

Documents

Bibliotherapy - The Power of Books in Healing - Hanem Ibrahim