Title : Using bibliotherapy for developing resilience for coping with life’s challenges
Abstract:
Bibliotherapy involves using books, guided self-reflection, and individual agency as tools for growth and healing. Resilience refers to an individual’s ability to bounce back from adversity. Building resilience can be a protective factor against debilitating life challenges and substance use disorders (SUDs). Therapeutic bibliotherapy can complement traditional medical or psychological therapies. Non-profits, like Hope at Hand, Inc. often have limited resources for conducting and disseminating research on the impact of their mental health programming. This session describes how research can promote collaboration, validate programming, and engage underserved youth and college students in therapeutic art and poetry experiences. The University of North Florida, and another university, co-authored a research study with Hope at Hand, Inc. A quasi-experimental study showed that bibliotherapy intervention resulted in a significant difference in scores on the Resilience Scale for Adults with undergraduate college students. The research supported significant outcomes of programming utilizing bibliotherapy with themes of resilience to help individuals make sense of their lives. Preliminary results suggest bibliotherapy improves resilience in undergraduates and underserved youth. Organizations that collaborate, perform well, increase impact, show evidence-based results that measure progress better to serve clients.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- Bibliotherapy provides a unique avenue for personal growth, self-awareness, and resilience. While it may not directly prevent drug addiction, it contributes to overall well-being and equips individuals with valuable tools to navigate life’s challenges.
- The presentation will address how Therapeutic bibliotherapy can complement traditional medical or psychological therapies.
- The presentation will present an IRB approved research study and show how mental health professionals can collaborate with universities and non-profits to develop an inquiry stance, conduct research, and apply evidence-based strategies for increasing their own and their organizations’ impact.
- Acquire knowledge and personal awareness of the protective factors that increase resilience.
- Review the components of a successful, award-winning non-profit, mental health provider.
- Studying successful organizations allows participants to learn from their best practices. Counselors can gain insights into effective strategies for client engagement, program development, and community outreach.
