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

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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 healing
power within a book. That’s what I am going to discuss through this paper.
I’ll discuss using books as a cure or treatment through what’s called
“bibliotherapy. In this paper we’ll 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 service
for 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 his

work 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
person’s mind (The International Child…, March2003). So the mental health
therapists use bibliotherapy trying to work with patient’s 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
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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 to
encourage 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 of
Mental, 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)

Conclusion
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Bibliotherapy is a potentially powerful method for helping some patients with

mental or emotional troubles; it’s 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 be
alert 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 Retrieved

October 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