The Pros and Cons of Bibliotherapy

Bibliotherapy has become a new trend for students to cope with difficult issues that they encounter. Although this concept is not new, it's new to the classroom. Bibliotherapy has been defined as the "prescription of books", but it is so much more that another avenue to "prescribe medicine". Many times kids do not need chemical medicine, they just a gateway to confront their issues. 

1. The "Pros"!!!!

The "Pros" of Bibliotherapy have benefited students in various ways inside and outside the classroom. Bibliotherapy is a way to develop creative and critical thinking skills. It brings the problems to the forefront in a nonexplosive way. Many children channel their life through a fictional character, which in return gives them effective problem solving skills. Once they finish reading the book, they open up more freely in a therapeutic way. In some cases, Bibliotherapy is performed in groups and kids work together in a group to develop empathy.

                               2. The "Cons"     

There is always a "Con" to every "Pro" in any situation and Bibliotherapy is not any different. The child's willingness to read or be read to is important. If a child does not like books, Bibliotherapy is pointless. This concept of therapy is not a single approach, It works hand and hand with other interventions. Bibliotherapy is not meant for a daily session and unfortunately all areas of disappointments are not available. Bibliotherapy is also pointless if a child dislikes reading or is unable to read. 

Bibliotherapy is a great new concept to us in the classroom as well as outside the classroom. It can be used in multiple ways,especially for instructional time. 

                                          

Subjects most affected by Bibliotherapy

When it comes to Bibliotherapy, there are certain subjects that come up more in a conversation. These topics tend to focus more on mental health and awareness. This gives individuals a understanding of their environment and give them realistic problem solving strategies to conquer their obstacles.

1. The Areas of Hindrance 

The most commonly topics are obstacles are;

   1.Adjustment'

   2. Personality

   3. Sex Information

   4. Meaning of Religion

   5. Marriage

   6. Child Rearing

   7. Coping with Stress

   8. Drinking And Alcoholism

2. The Purpose

The purpose of Bibliotherapy is to encourage individuals to invest interest outside of themselves, provide realistic problem solving skills, get in touch with nature and to deliver a gateway to outside reality. It is important for the individual to escape their conflict and maintain contact with reality. Nobody can think straight or efficiently when there are many subjects swarming in their thinking space. 

                                      

 Strategies to H E L P!!!

Mental Awareness....It's serious!!!

Have you ever sat down and thought about your well being? If your answer is yes, then how many times have you actually thought about yout mental health, besides your physical health? Most people fail to realize that mental health and awareness is a serious matter to deal. Mental Illness is just as deadly as some of the other life ending tragedies. Being conscious of your mental stability is very important and is recommend by doctors everywhere.

1. How are you really feeling?      

When a doctor asks you how are you feeling during your check up, we tend to leave out how we are feeling mentally. Mental Illness cuts people's lives short by 20 years than with people who do not have any mental illnesses. That's a big gap! This is mainly the result by the medical treatment people who are mentally unstable. Unfortunately, they do not receive the same medical attention. The quality of the medical treatment is different. Even in the most sufficiently resourceful country, mental illness is well known and in the developing countries, the life expectancy gap is greater. Nearly four to five million people are living with some type of mental illness. Shocking!

2. The different types of Mental Illnesses

There are different types of mental illness, but the one that kills people the most, is suicide. This tragic event takes the lives of so many people, which most of the lives are young adults, even in smaller developing countries. Another Mental Illness is depression. Depression is the third leading in disability. Here is a list of the different mental illnesses: 
Autism
Intellectual disability in childhood
Depression
Anxiety
Substance Misuse
Psychosis in adulthood 
Dementia in old age 

How are you feeling? 

Ted Talks:Mental Health

Read this!

Bibliotherapy. This word confuses so many people. Of course it is the product of the two words being mashed together, but when it is defined it means the use of reading materials for help in solving personal problems or psychiatric therapy. If one was to break the word down, "biblio" means "book" and "therapy" means the treatment of physical or mental illness. So in the most elementary form of meaning, Bibliotherapy means treating physical or mental illness through books. But why write about it? Why is it important?

1. How Did I Get Here? 

Life always has a way of turning things U P  S I D E  D O W N!!! Different events can bring turmoil to one's life and can rattle one's focus. It's life. There is no way around it, it's destined to happen. But on the brighter side, we have different avenues to help cope with life's rocky moments. That's a great thing to rejoice about, right? Through the many forms of therapy, Bibliotherapy is the "new kid on the block." This form of therapy is still upcoming and is a new thing among our society today. Bibliotherapy has been used to psychologist across this country, but it has recently crossed over to the classroom. Now this should be interesting!

2. DING DING! Class is in session!