ACT
The act is the use of books in therapy. Focusing specifically on adolescents and young adults, the guided reading of fictional works can prove to be beneficial. Counselors/ psychiatrists would be able to use their discretion to “prescribe” books to the adolescent/young adult, paying close attention to the issues that he/she is facing and the connection that he/she may have with the characters, plots, or themes that the work of fiction may present. However, bibliotherapy is not something that could only be used by counselors or psychiatrists, libraries could also do their best to make displays of books that might appeal to adolescents/young adults and can provide advice and help for those who are (perhaps silently) seeking it. SCENE
The scene for this argument could be any place. The most common would probably be a counseling center, but it could also be at home, school, the library, or any place where the individuals choose to read these books. Also, the scene for these individuals could be very different, depending on their difficulties – they could be suffering from a broken home, bullying at school, or any kind of abuse. The scene, therefore, becomes anywhere these individuals want it to be – possibly a place where they seek sanctuary from the real world in order to immerse themselves in another. AGENT
The agents can be a variety of people – from the adolescents/young adults, to their parents, to the counselors (psychiatrists and research psychologists), teachers, librarians, and also the government (for funding, support, endorsement). Each of these people would play a crucial role in bibliotherapy, although none is perhaps as important as the individuals themselves. Even if the psychiatrists/counselors recommend certain books, it is up to the adolescents/young adults to actually read them and seek a deeper meaning than perhaps what is at “surface level.” It is ultimately these individuals who must make the connections such as relating to the characters, placing themselves in the situations that the books may present, and ultimately recognizing that the characters’ solutions may be similar to their own.
AGENCYThe agents can be a variety of people – from the adolescents/young adults, to their parents, to the counselors (psychiatrists and research psychologists), teachers, librarians, and also the government (for funding, support, endorsement). Each of these people would play a crucial role in bibliotherapy, although none is perhaps as important as the individuals themselves. Even if the psychiatrists/counselors recommend certain books, it is up to the adolescents/young adults to actually read them and seek a deeper meaning than perhaps what is at “surface level.” It is ultimately these individuals who must make the connections such as relating to the characters, placing themselves in the situations that the books may present, and ultimately recognizing that the characters’ solutions may be similar to their own.
The agencies could be the counseling centers, government, schools, libraries, the books…anything that contributes to the expansion or endorsement of bibliotherapy. An agency could also be an advertisement for a counseling center – the use of a different way to break through or aid people through literature – or simply someone recommending a particular counselor/psychiatrist because he/she uses bibliotherapy as a method.
I think this is an interesting argument and a concept I have never heard of before. You make a smart distinction when you speak of agents, outlining the individual as the most important agent. If the person does not read, the whole therapeutic action is null and void. But, that important point makes me wonder about this for of therapy. It seems hard enough as it is to get teens to pick up a book and I feel like they would be less likely to if someone was like, "Read this, it'll help you." I know that when I was a teenager I would not have been to keen on the idea. Your discussion of agency is compelling though and speaks to who would be motivated to do this and why. I think an important agent, especially for the teen market is the cover artist. If the book is visually attractive it stands a better chance of being opened.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic. I like how you stated that fiction books would be prescribed, however if I went to one of these centers for bibliotherapy I wouldn’t want to be limited to just reading fictional books. It wasn’t until college that I actually learned to like reading, and yes I’m talking about text books. While fictional books offer a creative angle to almost any topic on the human condition I would like to be prescribed books that were non-fiction. Learning about scientists and their lives has only inspired me to become better and work harder towards my career. Though these books may offer no emotion value to most I find great comfort in reading about real people and their lives. I love learning more about bioinformatics everyday in text books.
ReplyDeleteJust some food for thought.
At Alissa: I definitely think that this approach won't work for everyone - I know how you said that you wouldn't have really liked this idea. However, I think it may be very beneficial for othes - if someone had handed me a new book, I would have been all over it. Others may be more inclined to musical therapy or other ways - this topic is more geared towards those who would be inclined to read, perhaps.
DeleteAt Eric: I definitely realize that non-fiction can be beneficial, when doing research for this I've uncovered writing about the benefits of both fiction and non-fiction. However, I decided to place the focus for my topic on fiction, specifically AYA (adolescent-young adult)to correspond with a certain novel (Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak) that I am going to use as an example.
Thanks for the feedback guys!
I'm glad that librarians are interested in exploring the ways in which reading is a potential source for therapy...your profession has expanded tremendously, in important ways...
ReplyDelete