Bibliotherapy, harnessing the power of literature, has a long history dating back to ancient times. The term was coined in 1916 by Samuel Mc Crothers and appeared in Poland in the 1930s. Today, it is a developing field of occupational therapy, finding applications in medicine, education, psychology, and psychiatry. Bibliotherapy involves targeted reading of appropriately selected books or materials, followed by a discussion of the specific passage.

The goals of bibliotherapy include:

A) Emotional support,

B) Stress, anxiety, and tension reduction,

C) Shaping moral attitudes,

D) Cognitive support,

E) Prevention and imagination development.

Biblioterapia może wspierać osoby z różnymi problemami, w tym pacjentów hospitalizowanych, osoby z zaburzeniami psychicznymi, osoby niepełnosprawne, uzależnione oraz te z trudnościami w życiu codziennym. Może służyć celom rewalidacyjnym, resocjalizacyjnym, profilaktycznym i ogólnorozwojowym.