Advocates stories, poems, and other fictional forms as healing agents, using the distinctive configuration of "The Physicians' Desk Reference" (a comprehensive description of the drugs physicians prescribe). (SR)

Emphasizes the importance of a "check-out" place within a professional therapist's life to prevent burnout and promote positive wellness and self-renewal. Recommends specific metaphorical and poetic exercises that clinicians can use in dealing with the past, the present, and the future. (RS)

British librarians working as bibliotherapists developed linkages with community service and health care agencies. The project influenced emotional and mental well-being of participants, increased the use of social and cultural facilities, and may eventually affect family literacy. (SK)

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.…

The authors of this article examined how pre-service teachers can use children's and young adult literature about disabilities to enhance understanding of individual differences through a bibliotherapeutic approach. An introduction to bibliotherapy is provided along with related literature from the field. Strategies for using children's and young…

Children are able to cope with a majority of problems of learning and growing; some problems, however, may require guidance and support. A technique available to all people, trained or untrained in counseling or guidance is bibliotherapy--a process of dynamic interaction between the personality of the reader and literature which may be used for…

The concept of bibliotherapy is not a new one. Aristotle believed that literature had healing effects and the ancient Romans also recognized that there was some relationship between medicine and reading. Most of the better mental hospitals in Europe had established libraries by the eighteenth century--in the United States by the middle of the…

Recent interest in the potential uses of bibliotherapy (defined as a process of dynamic interaction between the reader and literature) has prompted research into the effects of bibliotherapy on the reader's attitudes and personality. This document lists and describes 14 completed doctoral dissertations in the area of bibliotherapy and its effects.…

The author begins with a broad discussion of the background and historical development of bibliotherapy. Through the study of theories, observations, personal opinions and comments, it is concluded that the field of bibliotherapy is a very subjective one. It is recommended that libraries increase their bibliotherapeutic role. (SG)

The librarian working in a hospital or institution with patients and the therapy staff must go beyond conventional library service. With many kinds of resources available the library becomes an integral part of the remedial and rehabilitative program. Strong and sustained motivation is necessary because the institution is an artificial environment…

Presents a bibliography of children's books in which the children portrayed are coping with handicaps such as blindness, deafness, mental retardation, cerebal palsy, and physical size. (JMB)

Urges bibliotherapy for children who have been physically, sexually, or psychologically abused. (DD)

The role of the arts as a therapeutic form of creative expression with mentally ill or emotionally disturbed persons is examined with particular emphasis on poetry and bibliotherapy. Briefly described is a Creative Arts Reciprocity Experience (CARE) program. (DB)

This article provides annotations of 11 stories about children and adolescents who happen to have a handicap. The books meet the following guidelines: (1) the story's theme does not center exclusively on a handicap; (2) characters are not stereotyped; and (3) stories meet general criteria for good children's literature. (Author/CB)

Reviews and critiques 11 stepfamily self-help books for children and adolescents. Codes books on dimensions of appropriate audience, author background, issues, advice, and strengths. Rates general interest and quality of writing of books and assigns categories of recommendation. Discusses use of the books as an adjunct to therapy. (Author/NB)