Bibliotherapy in Social Work

Abstract

Bibliotherapy literally means the therapeutic use of literature. Many people will have experienced the power of literature or other art forms to offer new insight, to provide sources of identification, to stir the emotions, and to release feelings. In line with its current usage bibliotherapy can be broadly defined as a technique whereby the worker seeks to utilise these interactive processes therapeutically so that those experiencing the literature or other form of media can be helped towards preventative, remedial and/or developmental goals. The literature can be either imaginative or didactic. It is the contention of this article that Bibliotherapy is a useful additional tool for social workers that can be used at the individual and group level with both children and adults. Illustrations are taken from the ‘Wednesday Group’ which was set up by the author for elderly depressed patients using a bibliotherapeutic approach, as well as from the wider literature on Bibliotherapy.

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