A convincing number of the population tends to perceive works of literature as a means for pleasure. An artistic expression only used for self interest and the belief that not a lot can be extracted from the writings unless it is presented in the environment of a scholarly basis. This may be true in those environments although writing and books offer more than just pleasure and thesis statements, they offer comfort and present the ability to heal individuals through the power of finding comfort beyond our present world. The pages are gates to a new life for certain individuals, giving them a new place to call home for just a few moments.
The term bibliotherapy may be confusing to many, a word that has an obscure ring to it, a first impression of confusion. Binding two words together, and offering a new term, that honestly not many seem to know. The definition of this word is inherently simple, it defines the ability of the use of books as therapy in the treatment of mental and psychological disorders, according to Webster dictionary.
There are many subjects I could have chosen to write about, but the appeal to this subject pulled me in like gravity keeping all of us planted to the grounds of our homes. There is a significant importance to this subject, literature has shown up time and time again as a creative outlet a means to bring solace, novels becoming guide books to help persons climb over the emotional hurdles life tend to throw in the course of our lives.
Now certainly you all may curious as to where this term ‘bibliotherapy’ came from and why the word seems to have an elusive and mysterious background to it. There is a certain appeal to this term, the ability to be drawn to a word because of the imagery it presents, holds power on its own, the elusiveness coming from the yellowing pages and the fading ink of the words. The characters aging with the ink but yet remaining alive in the story. There is a comfort, a tranquil hum that seems to base its self from the nostalgia that certain stories bring to the readers. The characters being their navigators, helping them whether the storm. Bibliotherapy calmes your sensory overload, bringing your crashing waves of intrusive thoughts at bay and to calming waters. The history of this therapy begins its journey towards the end of the first world war. According to Liz Brewster, author of ‘Bibliotherapy’ introduces the resource that began as a “literary clinic.” The writers take us back in history, not only would soldiers be coming back with physical wounds they would also come back home with deeply rooted psychological wounds as well. Flashbacks of their time spent at battle and experiencing your comrades being killed in front of you. At pivotal moments the soldiers minds begin to resemble the trenches where they would lay, dark, cramped up, and filled with beings that do not belong there in the first place. Brewer states that “war neurosis” affected a significant amount of individuals who had come back from World War one between the years of 1914 to 1918. The number of soldiers who experienced shell shock have never been accurately identified. Although the soldiers that did seek psychological help did allow for mental health issues to be addressed and for new approaches to be founded. The soldiers that had been admitted to a ward for shell shock or had just been seeing an occupational therapist on their own, had been introduced to bibliotherapy as a form to reintroduce the soldiers to daily life scenarios. To allow this effort to happen libraries became the leading role. Various books that would either introduce new skills or would give the soldiers a reality to escape to and a place that would allow them to process their emotions. Psychiatry and the various historical milestones it has gone through since the discovery of it, to the various positions that it holds today reflects the growth of society. Brewster reflects this position, she states the every changing definition of bibliotherapy has to do with the, “changing attitudes and approaches to mental health treatment, and with the evolving role of the hospital and public libraries” (Brewster,3).
The developmental aspect of bibliotherapy does not stop at the world wars, one of the main reasons this therapy began to appear more significant was due to psychologist Alice Bryan, who in 1939, posed the question: ‘can there be science of bibliotherapy?’ (Brewer 6). The main goal and purpose to this was question was followed by six significant objectives the a patient would got through before selecting a reading to work with. The objectives are of such ideas, identification, motivation, personal values, and experience. These pillars of objectives would help the patient and the doctor into a more aware self understanding of the problems at large.
Therapy with literature began to see a resurgence and an ultimate peak during the 1960s through the 1970s. This type of medical aide began to see an increasing number of academic journals and article being published around this topic (Brewer 7). In the early use of bibliotherapy, fiction books were predominantly the literature of choice as the ‘make believe’ worlds that had been created in the novels would encourage the readers to have a more imaginative and positive outlook on life. Psychiatrist at many asylums in the 60s and 70s, encouraged reading to those who did not suffer from any mental issues, as they strongly believed literature gave the ability to maintain good mental health (Brewer 7).
The concept of death is difficult for many to comprehend and grasp, even for those who are a whole lot older, so imagine yourself as a child trying to cope and understand the concept of death. The emotional baggage that carries itself to the result of death is one that is predominately life changing, a moment in an individuals life that will shape them. There are times when traumatic moments happen to individuals, many are able to move past them, to get to the other side without need any particular guidance, but then, there are some who fall into the gripes of the darkness and have a hard time crawling there way out of the dark hole that continues to pull them in. Children and adolescents tend to channel their grief in different ways opposed to older individuals. Slyter, author of ‘grief and adolescent development’ states that teenagers tend to take the grief in a more personal nature, meaning the feelings are far more intense (Slyter 18). The author furthermore explains the point that the death of a loved one and the feelings attached to the loss may directly impact their life forever, even after they move from the death (Slyter 18). Case studies in Brewers article exemplify the power novels hold for individuals who are grieving. Grief is not the only topic bibliotherapy helps children with, children who have past issues of trauma or abuse are routed to biblio-therapists. Andrea Karlin, author of ‘Child abuse: helping children through bibliotherapy’, states “literature develops empathy by helping the reader relate more fully to this human condition” (Karlin 6).
The novels chosen by the therapist involved regard the childs fears, helping the m push past their traumas and to overcome what has happened to them. . Day after day of abuse and belittlement. Oftentimes children who are victims of abuse, find comfort in outdoor environments, to people or places. Or, there are many who reach for books allowing their imagination to whisk them away to a place where they may not experience any harms. That is the power of bibliotherapy, conveying knowledge and power to tiny individuals who need it the most. Story lines that take the children on adventures and who give them comfort, and humour to make them feel less alone in their big world.
In general I am content with my second draft, although a part that I feel like I need to improve on would be my sub argument number two. I think it feels too factual and essay like, I will try and work my way through this feeling and the way it comes across when you read it. I also need to add in my ending which I will be working on after I submit the second draft.
A part of the paper that I am very happy with, would be the tone. I enjoy when I am able to write in a less formal and more prose poetic style, so for me, getting the ability to create sentences that reflect that style make me very happy.
“There is a certain appeal to this term, the ability to be drawn to a word because of the imagery it presents, holds power on its own, the elusiveness coming from the yellowing pages and the fading ink of the words. The characters aging with the ink but yet remaining alive in the story. There is a comfort, a tranquil hum that seems to base its self from the nostalgia that certain stories bring to the readers. The characters being their navigators, helping them whether the storm. Bibliotherapy calms your sensory overload, bringing your crashing waves of intrusive thoughts at bay and to calming waters.”
I am most proud of this paragraph because of the image it creates in your head, it awakens the senses. The ability to write in a poetic and image fulfilling way always brings me great pleasure and to be honest, this paragraph just makes me very happy. I feel like reading it fills you with a certain sense of hope and longing, the reader getting the ability to understand why people are drawn to books and why they lose themselves in the writing.l
I think the most helpful and inspiring writing technique for this feature article was the use of narration and imagery. Being able to inject a voice and imagery in to the article really helps it come alive and seem less flat.
I think sub argument number two still needs some work, and my heading and ending will need to be added to make it a final draft.
The processing if writing of writing this draft was easy for the beginning, I struggled with the second argument a little bit, which is why I needed an extension. It overall was a mixture between easy and a struggle.
I think the current situation actually helped me write this paper, being at home has made me a little less stressed, considering the circumstances. But being able to sleep on ideas and to read a bit more has helped me tap into my creative side which I think helped me with this paper.
works cited.
McNicol, Sarah, and Liz Brewster. Bibliotherapy. Facet Publishing, 2018.
Karlin, Andrea, and Odette Bruneau. Child Abuse: Helping Children through Bibliotherapy.Mar.1985
Haeseler, Lisa Ann. “Biblio-Therapeutic Book Creations by Pre-Service Student Teachers: Helping Elementary School Children Cope.” Journal of Instructional Psychology, vol. 36, no. 2, June 2009, pp. 113–118.
Ogden, Jenni. “Are You in Need of Bibliotherapy?” Can Reading Fiction Solve Your Deepest Psychological Problems?, 28 Feb. 2016, pp. 1–4.
Tangerine dreams 