Designing a Bibliotherapy Program

Last summer, I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Riza Reyes who was, at the time, finishing her thesis on Bibliotherapy at Southville International School and Colleges. A friend from the library profession introduced us and we found ourselves seeing each other for consultations a few times over. 

Riza was designing a Bibliotherapy Program for teenagers and adults. A guidance and counseling major, her masteral studies involve the use of literature and stories for therapy. While she was confident in the areas of psychological assessment and treatment, she admitted that identifying literature for her intervention sessions was an area she needed help and assistance. Thus, the referral and our meet ups over pastries and coffee.

I learned many things about the program she was designing back then - her target participants, the design and environment for her therapy sessions, the pre-test and post test assessment tools she planned to administer. It was a clinical program using Bibliotherapy. Understanding her study and the purpose for using literature to help teens and adults come to terms with their mental health conditions inspired me to further help her. 

I recommended varied reading materials and media to use. I reminded her that readers need encouragement to make choices on the materials to read. This is an empowering experience, simple as it may seem. Allowing them to express their thoughts and responses to the literature they have read completes the cycle of confidence building. Riza is listener and eager to learn. A month after our first few meetings, I received the revised Bibliotherapy Program. She gave the participants more activities and agency in the experience of encountering literature. 

I will definitely follow up on her since Bibliotherapy is my passion project. And who knows, this guidance counselor and librarian team-up may lead to more projects for teens and young people in the future.