Definition
Bibliotherapy refers to the therapeutic use of books to help people cope with life changes, emotional difficulties, or mental illnesses. The purpose of bibliotherapy is to promote healing by providing guidance for solving personal problems through the use of books that are relevant to people’s life situations and needs. Bibliotherapy is used to change affect and behavior, promote the development of coping skills, and enhance one’s self-awareness and understanding through literature.
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History
The use of books as a treatment modality has a unique and long history. Some trace its origins as far back to the ancient Greek times, as seen by the inscription “The medicine chest of the soul” above the library door of Thebes. However, bibliotherapy did not start to gain recognition in the United States until the mid-1800s, when Benjamin Rush, MD, and John Minson Galt II, MD,...
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Long, S. (2011). Bibliotherapy. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_330
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_330
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science