Bibliotherapy from a Person-centered Perspective

Bibliotherapy from a Person-centered Perspective

The paper aims to give a general overview of a person-centered basis for bibliotherapy services. It suggests to place emphasys on some of the emotional potentials hidden within and between the readers, taking into consideration the various aspects of the group process phenomenon. According to this approach, reading materials are tools that match the special needs of the reader so that they open up personal aspects of meanings, and elicit readers’ subjective emotional response. Personal interpretations are shaped by one’s identity and life-experience, accompanied by group interactions and co-constructions of
meanings which may lead the person toward new attitudes and motivations. The second part of the paper invites colleagues to join a European bibliotherapy network, initiating a joint neffort for development of innovative, person-centered services applicable regionally. Besides offering continuing education and research partnerships, the most important outcome of this project will be an international bibliotherapy database for connecting people to helpful and inspiring books, providing health information. The planned service can add to the reader’s advisory toolkit of librarians, complement traditional therapies, and extend peoples’ support outside of traditional settings.