Healing through Reading: A Discursive Exploration of Bibliotherapy in Online Spaces

Abstract: 

With technological advancements, noteworthy changes have occurred in therapeutic landscapes. The rise of online therapy has significantly altered the therapeutic domains. Although not extensively researched, the domain of bibliotherapy has been through digital transformations. The online availability of literary sources has played a crucial role in reshaping bibliotherapy practices. While the digital shift has increased the accessibility of bibliotherapy, it has also led to many misconceptions. Given the evolving and relatively less structured nature of the field of study, examining its presence in virtual spaces is imperative. Conversations surrounding bibliotherapy occur across many virtual platforms, including LinkedIn and significant websites frequently explored by individuals seeking information on bibliotherapy. The present study examines how popular or commonly visited websites that incorporate the term “bibliotherapy” conceptualize and shape the notion of bibliotherapy itself. The study proposes a critical examination of the content available on eight websites. The content on these websites has been organized according to its thematic structure and has been further analyzed informed by the principles of Foucauldian Discourse Analysis. These websites unfold distinct discourse structures concerning the term ‘bibliotherapy.’ These discourse structures spawn from conceptualizing it as a form of psychotherapy with its established rules and guidelines to considering it mere companionship of books. These discourse structures underscore varied perspectives on the construction of the term bibliotherapy while opening new possibilities and closing off others. The intricacies embedded within all these discourses have been thoroughly examined, and the need for scholarly exploration in this field has been emphasized.