If you live in Melbourne, you might like to go along to the State Library of Victoria and take part in a free bibliotherapy program. This is being offered by practicing bibliotherapist, Dr Susan McLaine, using stories, poems and podcasts.
An original concept, developed by a caring school librarian with a love of books, assisted a group of students to deal with emotions surrounding trauma and loss.
Rereading childhood books could be seen as somewhat juvenile, but this article explains why it can be a beneficial tool for reflecting on personal growth and change.
‘What Rereading Childhood Books Teaches Adults About Themselves’ by Emma Court
Originally published - 27 July 2018
If you’re not yet familiar with the term bibliotherapy, you’ll find this article from The Guardian quite instructive.
‘A dose of prose: bibliotherapy’ by Jay Rayner, Robert McCrum, Alex Clark, Tom Lamont, Inez Sarkodee-Adoo, Eva Wiseman
Originally published – 27 November 2011
On the powerful benefits of reading
According to this article, the therapeutic benefits of literature go back as far as Plato.
‘The reading cure’ by Blake Morrison
Originally published - 5 January 2008
Discover how specialised pathways develop within our neural architecture as we become familiar with the symbols that represent words.
‘Explainer: how the brain changes when we learn to read’ by Nicola Bell
Originally published - 11 May 2017
