What are the Therapeutic Benefits of Reading?

Recently a reader wrote in asking about the benefits of reading and specifically:

• What are the benefits of reading?
• What impact does it have on us, in terms of increasing our ability to empathise/heal from past trauma?
• In what ways can it be therapeutic?

Reading has tremendous benefits beyond therapeutic ones, but I focus on these here, given the questions are focused on reading as therapy:

Q: What are the benefits of reading?

A: Like mindfulness, reading has a plethora of benefits from exercising the mind, deepening empathy, relaxing us and forcing us to slow down, to perhaps even teaching us something. Most importantly, from a bibliotherapy perspective, reading offers us an excellent coping mechanism — especially during difficult times. The right book for a specific situation can reassure us, calm us down and offer healing. Reading also helps us to stay present on the page and words, which like mindfulness, promotes a sense of calm, clarity and peace — particularly during stressful periods.

Q: What impact does it have on us, in terms of increasing our ability to empathise/heal from past trauma?

A: Reading is more than just voraciously devouring words as we hurriedly rush through the…