Recent years have witnessed an upsurge in the therapeutic use of books. With its initial roots in psychodynamic theory, available models emphasize features of the relationship between the personality of a reader and the cognitive and affective experience offered through literature. This article explores the historical development of bibliotherapy…

The purpose of the current study was to examine therapists' perceptions about literacy in early intervention services. Little effort has been devoted to the incorporation of literacy into therapy services for very young children with special needs. In an attempt to understand how therapy providers view the role of literacy in their services, 168…

Explores the role of biblio/poetry therapy as an avenue into the spirit that can promote spirituality, perception, insight, relevancy, integration, and totality. (SR)

Presents a unifying theoretical framework for bibliotherapy, based on C. Shrodes' model of bibliotherapy and I. D. Yalom's research on therapeutic factors in group therapy. Draws research and practice implications for both individual and group therapy. (RS)

Examines the use of the poetic with respect to the technical characteristics common to various forms of brief psychotherapy. Suggests that poetry can serve as a therapeutic agent in promoting client change. Conclude with implications for practice and directions for further research. (RS)

Surveyed 158 members of American Academy of Psychotherapists in attempt to identify primary users of bibliotherapy, problems for which bibliotherapy seems most applicable, and reading resources that are being used effectively. Found that bibliotherapy was used often, particularly with childrearing skills and sexual dysfunctions. Years of…

Present an overview of the field of poetry therapy, discussing definitions, goals, applications, theory, and method (describing a typical session). Notes that this report was originally submitted for testimony on Capitol Hill. (SR)

Discusses some theoretical considerations essential to understanding poetry's power to assist in healing mental, moral, or spiritual anguish. Presents two fundamental and contrasting notions of what a poet does, how a poem comes to be, what place a poet and poetry have in society, and what criteria determine whether a poem is art, or not. (RS)

Discusses the clinical use of story, and examines the therapeutic use of interactive bibliotherapy as a catalyst for healing and empowering an emotionally abused woman. Offers a case history of the adult woman, discussing the use of dialog journals and a particular children's book in her therapy. (SR)

Argues that the dichotomous nature of poetry may lend itself well to the complementary structural deficits of well-defined borderline personality disordered patients. Suggests that the emotive aspects of the poem may permit the patient to engage in the work, whereas the more rational, structured aspects of the poem facilitate personality…

Describes the use of bibliotherapy by Eva Renate Stoltzenberg, librarian at the Central Hospital in Bremen-Ost in the Federal Republic of Germany. (DD)

Provides a perspective on the use of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" as a bibliotherapeutic tool in group therapy. Provide an example of theme extraction in a session. Considers philosophical and theoretical issues. (RS)

Discusses the use of metaphors in psychotherapy. Offers suggestions for the construction and delivery of therapeutic metaphors. Includes two abridged metaphors used with an actual client, and presents the client's poetic responses. (RS)

Explores the use of the Bible as a resource in therapy. Provides a Bible Resource Subject Index, and offers several techniques on the use of the Bible in individual and group therapy. (SR)

Thirty-one community-residing older adults age 60 or over either received 16 sessions of individual cognitive psychotherapy (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979) or read Feeling Good (Burns, 1980) for bibliotherapy. Posttreatment comparisons with the delayed-treatment control indicated that both treatments were superior to a delayed-treatment control.…