Although the term ‘bibliotherapy’ was first coined by Samuel Crothers in 1916, the use of books to change behaviour and to reduce distress has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages.
Although the term ‘bibliotherapy’ was first coined by Samuel Crothers in 1916, the use of books to change behaviour and to reduce distress has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages. And to bring back the magic of books to the city, literary agent, Sherna Khambatta, author and story coach, Anupa Mehta and bibliotherapist, Sonia Mackwani along with anchor Chintan Girish Modi will guide lapsed readers back towards a good book and prescribe novels for common ailments.
“Reading certain texts elevate moods and hence benefit the readers and change their outlook,” says Sherna. But how and why books serve as a therapy Sonia, one of the panellists, says, “I have been naturally practising this method since childhood and as a healer and psychologist, I have worked with people of different age groups and often had positive results.”
The session is aimed at lapsed readers, avid readers, working mothers, therapists and counsellors so that they perceive the magical power of reading and then further deploy them in their upcoming days. “Books can teach us things, make us value our everyday lives and even shape the way we think. Bibliotherapy uses books to address a variety of problems,” says Dhwani Vyas from Avid Learning. “The sessions will focus on different types of fiction and non-fiction works, the content of which is expected to instigate transformation.”
“Many scientific studies have been carried out since the late seventies which bear testimony to the positive effects of bibliotherapy and I’m sure this session will match up to the expectations,” she concludes.
On May 26, 6 pm – 8 pm, At Essar House, 11 K.K. Marg, Mahalaxmi
