The Power of Bibliotherapy

I often feel pulled by a story, as if the story is a magnet. It is often the voice of the narrator. It always feels as if they are speaking to me or whispering a secret.

I am also pulled by the way a poem can mirror my feelings. I will hold on to a poem. I print and tuck it in my wallet, so that I can read it again and again.

As a young girl, I would memorize them. Oh Neruda!

Poema 20

Pablo Neruda

Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche.

Escribir, por ejemplo: «La noche está estrellada,

y tiritan, azules, los astros, a lo lejos».

El viento de la noche gira en el cielo y canta.

Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche.

Yo la quise, y a veces ella también me quiso.

This pull is the magic of bibliotherapy. It nurtures our creative and emotional selves; it allows us to explore who are.

What is Bibliotherapy?

Bibliotherapy (also known as Poetry Therapy or Therapeutic Storytelling) is a creative arts therapy that involves reading specific texts and uses the content of a poem or story as therapy and it is often combined with writing. Bibliotherapy involves the use of literature, storytelling and writing to support healing and self-growth. You engage in a poem or a story, by reading and writing to deepen self-awareness, process emotions and connect with our self and others.

Here’s how bibliotherapy shows up, these are just a few ways:

1. Prescriptive Bibliotherapy I often recommend a specific book (fiction, nonfiction, or self-help) tailored to address emotional or psychological challenges. Examples: Love Me, Don't leave Me by Michelle Skeen which address the life pattern of fear of abandonment.

2. Creative Bibliotherapy: Here we engage groups in reading and discussing stories, poems, or fiction, to support their emotional and personal growth through shared literary experiences.

3. Developmental Bibliotherapy: Mostly used in educational or family settings to help children and adolescents navigate developmental challenges/

Why Journaling Matters

Journaling is at the core of expressive bibliotherapy. Journals are where your thoughts, feelings and stories find their voice and their home. Writing in a journal can bring the truth to the surface. It allows you to clarify complex emotions. It provides a safe space to process the challenges of everyday life. Journaling is not about perfection, but about the process of expression. What happens to you when you allow your pen to flow? Write one word and allow it to unlock your memory. A page of writing can bring relief, wonder and understanding.

Books as Tools for Transformation

In my Bibliotherapy workshop, we will dive into books that help us reflect and grow. Books like Breaking Negative Thinking Patterns, Love Me Don't Leave Me, and We all Have Parts, will open up meaningful conversation and creative expression. These books help us learn about ourselves.

Every Word Holds Power

Every word holds power. A sentence or stanza, even a thought in passing noted in a journal can open something deep within us. What stories are calling to you? What words inspire you?

Let's explore them together.

One book. One line. One discovery at a time.

About Me

I am an educator, psychotherapist, mixed media collage artist, and the author of "My Daughter’s Eyes and Other Stories." As a facilitator for SoulCollage® and Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA), I integrate energy healing, dreamwork, and writing to promote growth and connection. My work with individuals and groups is focused on empowering people to embrace their unique stories and tap into the healing power of creativity and self-expression..