Bibliotherapy: Overview and implications for counselors

Stories affect human emotions, and books can serve as models for development. Their influence on emotions and development has been recorded throughout history. Aristotle observed the effect of drama on audiences and coined the term “catharsis” to describe emotional release. Shakespeare scribed these words for Titus Andronicus, “Come and take choice of all my library and so beguile thy sorrow” (Act IV, Scene I). Bibliotherapy dates back at least to the early nineteenth century (Pardeck & Pardeck, 1998). Both Sigmund and Anna Freud included the use of literature in their psychoanalytic practices. During World War I, both in England and the United States, the oft prescribed treatment for hospitalized patients included literature. Currently, many mental health professionals incorporate bibliotherapy