We all know the drill. If we want to maintain our health, doctors tell us we have to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, get regular exercise and practice relaxation techniques to cope with stress. But what if your doctor suggested you read a story? The idea isn't as outrageous as it sounds. Can reading a story make you less depressed, give you new coping skills and brighten your outlook on life? Scientists in the field of behavioral health say yes.
As a practicing psychologist, I'm a big fan of bibliotherapy In case you're not familiar with the term, bibliotherapy simply means "reading for therapeutic effect." I've found it to be very popular with my clients and easy to incorporate into a treatment plan. Although my own experience has been with female clients, bibliotherapy works well both with men and women, with individuals and groups. Fiction has a universal appeal and the message is timeless, resonating with all demographics, all social classes.
Bibliotherapy has been around since the ancient Greeks; in fact the world's oldest library had a phrase above the door that read, "House of Healing for the Soul." The Greeks believed that stories had a cathartic effect; the reader would identify with the main character, feel true empathy with her problems, and experience a release of emotional tension when the issue was resolved.
The popularity of "self-help" books has spiraled through the years, but the idea of using fiction to help clients solve their problems is less well known. I've found novels and short stories to be particularly helpful when clients are at a critical juncture in their lives. Perhaps they're in their sixties and facing retirement, or worse, have been laid off from their jobs. Or they might be young parents, overwhelmed by the stress of working and caring for their children on a single income. Seeing a fictional character cope with these difficulties offers hope and can encourage problem-solving skills.
The American Library Association provides a comprehensive list of suggestions for counselors and health care professionals who would like to incorporate bibliotherapy into their practice.
On a personal note, I have found a collection of short stories by New York Times best-selling author of the Booktown Mysteries, Lorraine Bartlett, works perfectly in a clinical setting. Each story tackles a particular topic: a relationship problem, a life crisis or a turning point. For example, Love Heals, is the story of one woman's journey of love and forgiveness. "An Unconditional Love" presents a crisis and a choice; the main character discovers she's pregnant after a one-night stand and faces a difficult choice. "Prisoner of Love" presents the dilemma of a woman who is engaged to a convicted felon.
The Women of Strength series by Tonya Thomas presents similar themes; all involve women who are at a turning point in their lives and rely on their courage and resilience to survive. As Ms. Thomas says, her stories include: being a mom, life passages, divorce and remarriage, domestic abuse, body image and the extremes women go to in seeking perfection. This is fiction that all my women clients can relate to and enjoy.
The transformational power of bibliotherapy is truly amazing. All it takes is a counselor, a meaningful story and a willing reader.
Dr. Mary Kennedy is a licensed psychologist with Associates in Health Psychology in Wilmington, Delaware and is a national best-selling novelist. She writes The Talk Radio Mysteries and The Dream Club Mysteries for Penguin-Random House as well as young-adult novels. She lives with her husband and seven neurotic cats on the East Coast. Both husband and cats have resisted her attempts to psychoanalyze them, but she remains optimistic. You can visit her at www.marykennedy.net