A Little About Me :)
Hi everyone,
Hope you have had a brilliant start to the new year! I thought this would be a good time to introduce myself to new followers :)
My journey into bibliotherapy began after completing a part-time diploma in psychodynamic counselling, during which I was also in therapy myself. At the time, I was working in investment banking, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at the University of Warwick in the UK. During my therapy sessions, I noticed a recurring pattern: whenever I explored a personal issue, I instinctively turned to books to better understand the context. My therapist would often recommend books, Greek myths, or simple stories to illustrate key points, and I found this immensely helpful in deepening the therapeutic process. It was then that I realised the profound power of literature as a tool for healing and self-discovery.This realisation sparked my curiosity, and I began delving into research on bibliotherapy. I connected with several leading experts in the field, including Dr. Pirjo Suvilehto, a Finnish bibliotherapist and Doctor of Philosophy and Literature at the University of Oulu and Dr Kelda Green at the University of Liverpool.
Their work further cemented my belief in the transformative power of literature, as well as more historic pioneers of bibliotherapy and therapeutic reading, which, if of interest, you can read about in my recently published book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading.
During this time, I developed a three-step methodology for curating reading lists and selecting books tailored to address a wide range of personal issues, building up a large database of book recommendations across a diverse range of mental health themes from anxiety, depression, mid-life crises, relationships issues, grief, bereavement and many more. These cover fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. (In the book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading, there’s a whole section devoted to some of these reading lists across fiction, nonfiction and poetry, that readers might find helpful.)
When my husband’s job was posted to San Francisco, I decided to leave my role at Deutsche Bank in London and officially launched Book Therapy, a bibliotherapy and literary curation service. Initially, I offered one-on-one bibliotherapy sessions and a personalised book prescription service, which provided curated reading lists without the need for face-to-face sessions.
Over time, I found that clients came to me for a variety of reasons. Some sought therapeutic literature, while others were interested in topics like parenting, career transitions, and even politics, and history. As interest grew, I noticed a demand for self-bibliotherapy techniques. In response, I launched an online course titled Bibliotherapy, Literature & Mental Health. The course has been well-received, not only by individuals seeking personal growth but also by mental health professionals such as counsellors, psychotherapists, life coaches, librarians, and social workers.
It has also inspired corporate workshops and library seminars focused on the healing power of reading. This has further spanned into offerings for parents, teachers, and anyone working with children (librarians, mental health professionals and social workers) including our Children’s Bibliotherapy Skills Online Course, Raising A Reader & Storyteller Course and also our Indian Rasa Theory & Bibliotherapy Course.
Finally, my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading, serves as a culmination of this journey, offering readers tools and insights to embark on their own bibliotherapy journeys. My hope is that it will empower others to harness the transformative potential of literature for their own well-being and growth. .
My book recommendations have featured in the Guardian, NBC News, Marie Claire, Asian Voice and various other publications.
Lastly, I have a podcast too, Bibliotherapy With Bijal Shah with transcripts here on Substack if you’d like to catch up on all the below episodes, starting with the most recent :)
SEASON 2
- My Most Anticipated Reads of 2025
- 2024 Reflections on Bibliotherapy
- My Favourite Books, Movies, TV Show and Quote from 2024
- Exploring Scriptotherapy
- Life-changing Books That Make the Best Gifts
- Books, Nooks and Bibliotherapy Gift Ideas for Book Lovers
- Heartwarming and Uplifting Fiction and Nonfiction Reads from Indian Literature
- Indian Rasa Theory & Bibliotherapy
- Our 10 Most Notable Books of 2024
- Carl Jung & Bibliotherapy
SEASON 1
- Literature on the Court: What Bibliotherapy and Tennis Have in Common
- Are Hypertext Novels Helpful in Bibliotherapy
- Book Recommendations on Embracing Change
- The World of Graphic Medicine
- Book Recommendations on Healing from and Coping with Heartbreak
- How Literary Fiction Trumps All Other Genres When it Comes to Mentalising and Building Empathy.
- Book Recommendations on Navigating Family Dynamics
- Freud & Fairytales
- Book Recommendations for Difficult Times
- How Effective is Bibliotherapy?
- What Kind of Issues Can be Treated with Bibliotherapy and Why Does it Work?
- Book Recommendations for Loneliness
- Book Recommendations for Anxiety
- What is Bibliotherapy?
I love connecting and collaborating with others interested in bibliotherapy, so do get in touch if any of my story resonates or takes your interest!
Have a brilliant week,
Bijal x
