Creative Therapies 101 with SPUM Edge 2022: Bibliotherapy

The five sessions on Bibliotherapy I had with the learning community at St. Paul Manila University ended early this month. My gratitude goes to Dr. Brian Bantugan and Dr. Aimee Santillan Butial for making this possible. I may be the facilitator, but, as it alaways happens in the teaching and learning process, the teacher learns.

Here are five things I learned from the Creative Therapies 101 Bibliotherapy:

1. I learned that participants need to be introduced or to be reviewed on literary forms and media formats, including genre of literature before using texts for bibliotherapy.

2. Alongside this review are sample texts that must be read in between sessions or as asynchornous activites

3. When reviewing or providing input on the above mentioned topics, it is important to use a framework. I plan to use the "form follows function" concept to make a framework for this input session. 

4. Co-facilitators can make a difference in deepening the concepts presneted and discussed during the webinar.

5. Make use of social media platforms for engagement and extension of aysnchronous activities.

It was a big help that Dr. Bantugan presented research and theories during the sessions. His presentation on the theories surrounding creative therapies grounded the process of bibliotherapy as a legitimate strategy for the promotion and growth of socio-emotional learning.  

Creative Therapies: Bibliotherapy 101 Day 1 and Day 2

 Creative Therapies: Bibliotherapy 101 with Zarah Gagatiga

Finding Grace in Every Day: Companionship in Days of Rain and Sunshine

Goal: the goal of the webinar is to understand and gain a working knowledge of Bibliotherapy for use as self-help and personal empowerment, building agency and the confidence to take risks, to solve problems and nurturing empathy in the process.

Objectives: At the end of webinar, participants are able

·        * to select and enjoy reading literature of different genre (personal essay, poetry, short story, songs and music videos) and media types that address or answer their needs for growth and development;

·        * plan, conduct and evaluate storytelling sessions/bibliotherapy encounters with a chosen group or community.

                  Day 1 – February 5, 2022

Introduction: Concepts and Framework

·        Stories are windows, doors and mirrors

·        Clinical and Developmental Bibliotherapy

·        Theoretical Underpinnings

o   Brief History

o   Nell, Ranganathan and Rosenblatt

·        Research and Studies

·        Bibliotherapy In Practice

o   Priming Activity

o   Encounter with the Text

o   Identification and Catharsis

o   Taking Action

o   Follow Through

Day 2 – February 19, 2022

·        Continue the Bibliotherapy Process

·        Bibliotherapy Process 2: The Giving Tree

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SPUM Edge's Certificate in Creative Therapies: Bibliotherapy

 Last Saturday, February 5 was the first session of the Certificate in Creative Therapies: Bibliotherapy at St. Paul University Manila, EDGE. 

The session was an introduction to the 5 days certificate course. The goal of the course is for participants to make use of bibliotherapy for self help and personal empowerment, building agency and the confidence to take risks, to solve problems and nurturing empathy. Session 1, being an introductory session. covered the following topics: definition of Bibliotherapy; brief historical background; theoretical underpinnings and concepts; research and studies; and the Bibliotherapy Process.

This is a new module though I have materials already prepared, I need to look out for changes that participants are bringing into the sessions. This is essential in making the module learner centered.

This is not my first time working alongside Paulinian educators. In the past, I had Author Visits and Talks in St. Paul College Pasig in their Grade School Department. In November 2019, I had the opportunity to take part in the Wholeness-Wellness Week of St. Paul University Manila where I had a face-to-face workshop on Bibliotherapy. Thanks to Dr. Brian Bantugan for pursuing and pushing for this online series of webinar. We can work together for common goals.