Bibliotherapy

Bibliotherapy – utilizing the power of books to tend to the spirit – has a long history. The inscription over the library doors in ancient Thebes read: “The Healing Place of the Soul”.

There are so many definitions of bibliotherapy, but it is important to stress that the kind of work Four Rooms does is not clinical bibliotherapy. Clinical bibliotherapy is a focus of psychologists and counsellors, used in the context of therapy. The kind of work we do is known generally as Creative Bibliotherapy.

Creative Bibliotherapy is the art of using a book or poem to learn and to heal. It involves the use of a written text, primarily fiction, to explore and expand the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. It can lead to the imaginative working through of feelings and issues, or encourage people to write their way through a situation they face. Seeing a reflection of our common human condition within the pages of a work of fiction or a poem can inspire, comfort and heal, whether it is through personal reflection or group discussion.

Four Rooms offers the option to create a personalized bibliotherapeutic reading list for individuals, as well as workshops for reading and discussion on various themes.