Latest news with #BibliotherapyintheBronx
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Can reading improve your health? Bibliotherapy says yes.
Can reading improve your health? Bibliotherapy says yes. Reading as a hobby is inherently rooted in self-care – while you can do it with others around, it ultimately offers a moment to slow down and steep in a story. But did you know it can actually be beneficial to your mental health? Enter bibliotherapy, the practice of using literature to heal. Emely Rumble, a licensed clinical social worker, biblio/psychotherapist and professor at Queens College in New York, first encountered the term when she studied abroad in college. There, she found London's Poetry Pharmacy, which sells 'books chosen to address your mood or emotional ailment.' Now, after nearly 15 years of prescribing literature on her own, Rumble's book 'Bibliotherapy in the Bronx' (out now from Simon & Schuster) aims to bring the therapy practice to those in need of comfort. What is bibliotherapy? It sounds like a buzzy wellness trend akin to 'rejection therapy' or 'apartners,' but in 'Bibliotherapy in the Bronx,' Rumble argues we've always used storytelling to make sense of 'who we are, where we've been, and the possibilities of where we can go.' Have you ever read a book that seemed to read you? A character that felt like they were written straight from your mind or a plot that you could relate to a little too hard? Chances are, you were practicing bibliotherapy on your own. In a clinical setting, bibliotherapy can be reactive or prescriptive. It can look like a therapist suggesting a book to their client, or a client bringing up a book that impacted them. In either scenario, books are used as a discussion tool to help better understand ourselves, our mental health and how we fit into the world. One systematic review published in 2017 found that bibliotherapy is effective in reducing depression symptoms over time. You can incorporate bibliotherapy into your reading as well. It's a four-step process, Rumble explains: Recognition: Emotionally connect with some aspect of the book Examination: Consider why you may have an emotional response to a character or concept Juxtaposition: Compare your life experience with a character's and put yourself in their shoes Self-application: Use this set of insights to examine how you feel about a situation, person or past trauma 'So much of the clinical process and therapy is making the unconscious, conscious and as human beings who live in a very production-driven, capitalist society, we don't have moments to pause and slow down,' Rumble says. 'One great thing about a reading practice is that it forces you to have to embody yourself, and it forces you to have to face yourself down with courage.' Rumble has used books in her therapy practice to help clients understand bodily changes during menopause, challenges that come with depression and anxiety, come out as queer and heal from abandonment. Anyone can benefit from bibliotherapy, she says. 'A lot of folks would rather be at home reading or joining a book club than coming to therapy,' Rumble says. 'If therapists can be trained in this unique modality of incorporating literature as a therapeutic tool, there's a lot more people who will be willing to engage.' How to incorporate bibliotherapy in your life Making time for regular reading can seem like an uphill battle for those with busy lives, but setting a routine is an important step in using literature to heal. It's an intentional time to slow down and practice stillness. Pencil in times where you can take a moment to read, whether it's on a lunch break, before bed, on your commute (audiobooks are great if you're driving) or first thing in the morning. Rumble recommends traveling with a book at all times, especially poetry, because it's a bite-sized, often meditative form to dive into. She recommends clients keep a curated bedside stack of books – something 'nourishing' like a guided journal, religious text or poetry book and a few novels that you're interested in. This can help combat late-night doomscrolling. It can also be helpful to find a reading community, whether that's belonging to a book club or reading with friends and neighbors at silent reading events. Bibliotherapy is helpful for kids' emotional development, too You might not think of it as therapy, but there's a good chance your childhood reads helped you develop an early understanding of your emotions and the world around you. 'A Bad Case of the Stripes' by David Shannon teaches kids to stay true to themselves rather than conform to peer pressure. 'Strega Nona' by Tomie dePaola can teach trust. 'We know, when you're in the business of building little people, how important emotional literacy is to cultivating a child's narrative exploration,' Rumble says. 'It really helps to get children thinking about really important aspects of who they are and who they want to become, and giving them the tools they need.' Bibliotherapy can be helpful for kids dealing with mental health challenges like anxiety or depression. It can help them process big feelings. It can also teach them about the world. Rumble uses an example of a child asking about the war in Gaza. 'We're not going to explain the whole history of Palestine to an 8-year-old and help them understand what's happening from an adult perspective,' she says. 'Instead, let's find a book that talks a little bit about how everyone comes from a different part of the world or a different culture and all cultures matter. Let's give them some of the foundational language to understand the beauty in all of our cultures and center everybody's humanity as an entry point to them understanding that what they're seeing is really scary.' In one instance described in the book, Rumble even used hip-hop to connect with a teen as a form of poetry bibliotherapy. 'When we listen to a song that matches the emotional tempo of what we're feeling, it's cathartic. It's healing,' she says. 'Sometimes we can't access the language, especially when we're hurting or traumatized or feeling overstimulated.' Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
CNN
24-03-2025
- General
- CNN
This form of therapy involves doing something fun
Summary Bibliotherapy, the practice of reading for wellness, provides a powerful way to relax and gain personal insights. Licensed clinical social worker Emely Rumble has prescribed books to clients for 15 years as therapeutic tools. Reading can trigger emotions that offer valuable self-knowledge and help people see different perspectives. Therapists often use books to help patients process trauma through fictional characters rather than direct questioning. Despite declining reading rates nationally, experts recommend focusing on enjoyment rather than quantity of books read. Like most parents, I'm exhausted from juggling the needs of my family and work in the 21st century. But after the kids fall asleep, I've been escaping to southern India in the early 20th century. It's warm there, I'm surrounded by water and the air smells like jasmine. I've been pulling this off with Abraham Verghese's gorgeous book 'The Covenant of Water.' It's been just the opportunity to relax that I've badly needed. During a particularly rough spell in which my kids and I were constantly ill this winter, I read Glynnis MacNicol's 'I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris' and vicariously traipsed through Paris as a single person. So-called bibliotherapy can be a powerful wellness practice, according to Emely Rumble, a Springfield, Massachusetts-based licensed clinical social worker who has been prescribing it to her clients for 15 years. For most of us, 'there's not really too many opportunities to slow down and turn inward,' said Rumble, who teaches a course on bibliotherapy at Queens College in New York City. She is also author of 'Bibliotherapy in the Bronx,' a book to be published in April. Reading offers a break from work and caring for other people, she said, and it can also be a way to gain personal insights. What stories teach us about ourselves Books often have powerful effects on people, making readers cry or causing them to get angry. 'If an emotion comes up for you while you're reading, there's some information there for you,' Rumble said. If readers stop and think about what's making them have the reactions they're experiencing, they can gain valuable knowledge about themselves. Similarly, she said, if readers find themselves connecting emotionally with certain characters, they should consider what's making them attach to those individuals. Rumble recommended readers keep journals on hand to write down what they learn about themselves. Reading about and reflecting on a topic also can provide an opportunity to see things from other people's points of view and even to reconsider your beliefs, Rumble said. 'We can realize that, OK, maybe I am thinking about something in black-and-white terms. Or maybe I am catastrophizing a little bit too much,' she said. 'Sometimes we read something (to help) reframe our perspective.' Rumble said stories also remind readers that they're not the only ones who are suffering. 'We're all impacted by the same societal ills, maybe on different levels, in different ways,' she said. This realization can help people feel less alone. Knowing who you are as a reader is important, whether you're a fan of historical fiction, science fiction, biographies, romance, young adult fiction or something else. Your local librarian or a site like Goodreads can help. The device for reading is your choice. Some people like audio books, while others read hard copies or use e-readers. What matters is that it's enjoyable for the person. Reading with a professional While some people like me find reading to be a way to relax and gain insights on our own, Rumble said therapists also prescribe books to their patients as a form of learning and healing. 'Traditional talk therapy, having a therapist ask you very personal questions or details about traumatic experiences, can feel really harrowing,' she said. 'When you're looking at it through the lens of a fictional character,' she said, 'it becomes a lot easier to talk about some of those painful memories or to consider different experiences that you've had.' Don't set book goals Despite the benefits of books, people have been reading less. The average American read 12.6 books during the previous year — the lowest number since 1990 — according to a 2022 Gallup survey. As a college professor, I find that, overall, my students read less now than they did when I started teaching a decade ago. But Rumble advised that it's best not to set goals for how many books you'll get through in a week or a year. Once we start focusing on how much we're reading, 'we take the joy away from the benefits of slowing down,' she said. Rumble recently spent two months reading Imani Perry's book 'Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People.' As she read along, she listened to blues music and checked out other books that Perry referenced. 'I feel like that's when reading gets really enjoyable because you're really engaging, not just with the text, but you're having fun with what the author is trying to impart to you as a reader,' she said. When I want to escape to Italy, I love soaking in Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels and Jo Piazza's 'The Sicilian Inheritance.' Reading Donna Tartt's 'The Goldfinch' recently reminded me of the power of art and prompted me to take my young daughters to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they were mesmerized by artifacts from ancient Egypt. Reading can be a powerful way of escaping, relaxing and realizing truths about ourselves and the world. That's why I'm heading back to India tonight.
CNN
24-03-2025
- General
- CNN
This form of therapy involves doing something fun
Summary Bibliotherapy, the practice of reading for wellness, provides a powerful way to relax and gain personal insights. Licensed clinical social worker Emely Rumble has prescribed books to clients for 15 years as therapeutic tools. Reading can trigger emotions that offer valuable self-knowledge and help people see different perspectives. Therapists often use books to help patients process trauma through fictional characters rather than direct questioning. Despite declining reading rates nationally, experts recommend focusing on enjoyment rather than quantity of books read. Like most parents, I'm exhausted from juggling the needs of my family and work in the 21st century. But after the kids fall asleep, I've been escaping to southern India in the early 20th century. It's warm there, I'm surrounded by water and the air smells like jasmine. I've been pulling this off with Abraham Verghese's gorgeous book 'The Covenant of Water.' It's been just the opportunity to relax that I've badly needed. During a particularly rough spell in which my kids and I were constantly ill this winter, I read Glynnis MacNicol's 'I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris' and vicariously traipsed through Paris as a single person. So-called bibliotherapy can be a powerful wellness practice, according to Emely Rumble, a Springfield, Massachusetts-based licensed clinical social worker who has been prescribing it to her clients for 15 years. For most of us, 'there's not really too many opportunities to slow down and turn inward,' said Rumble, who teaches a course on bibliotherapy at Queens College in New York City. She is also author of 'Bibliotherapy in the Bronx,' a book to be published in April. Reading offers a break from work and caring for other people, she said, and it can also be a way to gain personal insights. What stories teach us about ourselves Books often have powerful effects on people, making readers cry or causing them to get angry. 'If an emotion comes up for you while you're reading, there's some information there for you,' Rumble said. If readers stop and think about what's making them have the reactions they're experiencing, they can gain valuable knowledge about themselves. Similarly, she said, if readers find themselves connecting emotionally with certain characters, they should consider what's making them attach to those individuals. Rumble recommended readers keep journals on hand to write down what they learn about themselves. Reading about and reflecting on a topic also can provide an opportunity to see things from other people's points of view and even to reconsider your beliefs, Rumble said. 'We can realize that, OK, maybe I am thinking about something in black-and-white terms. Or maybe I am catastrophizing a little bit too much,' she said. 'Sometimes we read something (to help) reframe our perspective.' Rumble said stories also remind readers that they're not the only ones who are suffering. 'We're all impacted by the same societal ills, maybe on different levels, in different ways,' she said. This realization can help people feel less alone. Knowing who you are as a reader is important, whether you're a fan of historical fiction, science fiction, biographies, romance, young adult fiction or something else. Your local librarian or a site like Goodreads can help. The device for reading is your choice. Some people like audio books, while others read hard copies or use e-readers. What matters is that it's enjoyable for the person. Reading with a professional While some people like me find reading to be a way to relax and gain insights on our own, Rumble said therapists also prescribe books to their patients as a form of learning and healing. 'Traditional talk therapy, having a therapist ask you very personal questions or details about traumatic experiences, can feel really harrowing,' she said. 'When you're looking at it through the lens of a fictional character,' she said, 'it becomes a lot easier to talk about some of those painful memories or to consider different experiences that you've had.' Don't set book goals Despite the benefits of books, people have been reading less. The average American read 12.6 books during the previous year — the lowest number since 1990 — according to a 2022 Gallup survey. As a college professor, I find that, overall, my students read less now than they did when I started teaching a decade ago. But Rumble advised that it's best not to set goals for how many books you'll get through in a week or a year. Once we start focusing on how much we're reading, 'we take the joy away from the benefits of slowing down,' she said. Rumble recently spent two months reading Imani Perry's book 'Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People.' As she read along, she listened to blues music and checked out other books that Perry referenced. 'I feel like that's when reading gets really enjoyable because you're really engaging, not just with the text, but you're having fun with what the author is trying to impart to you as a reader,' she said. When I want to escape to Italy, I love soaking in Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels and Jo Piazza's 'The Sicilian Inheritance.' Reading Donna Tartt's 'The Goldfinch' recently reminded me of the power of art and prompted me to take my young daughters to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they were mesmerized by artifacts from ancient Egypt. Reading can be a powerful way of escaping, relaxing and realizing truths about ourselves and the world. That's why I'm heading back to India tonight.
CNN
24-03-2025
- General
- CNN
This form of therapy involves doing something fun
Summary Bibliotherapy, the practice of reading for wellness, provides a powerful way to relax and gain personal insights. Licensed clinical social worker Emely Rumble has prescribed books to clients for 15 years as therapeutic tools. Reading can trigger emotions that offer valuable self-knowledge and help people see different perspectives. Therapists often use books to help patients process trauma through fictional characters rather than direct questioning. Despite declining reading rates nationally, experts recommend focusing on enjoyment rather than quantity of books read. Like most parents, I'm exhausted from juggling the needs of my family and work in the 21st century. But after the kids fall asleep, I've been escaping to southern India in the early 20th century. It's warm there, I'm surrounded by water and the air smells like jasmine. I've been pulling this off with Abraham Verghese's gorgeous book 'The Covenant of Water.' It's been just the opportunity to relax that I've badly needed. During a particularly rough spell in which my kids and I were constantly ill this winter, I read Glynnis MacNicol's 'I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris' and vicariously traipsed through Paris as a single person. So-called bibliotherapy can be a powerful wellness practice, according to Emely Rumble, a Springfield, Massachusetts-based licensed clinical social worker who has been prescribing it to her clients for 15 years. For most of us, 'there's not really too many opportunities to slow down and turn inward,' said Rumble, who teaches a course on bibliotherapy at Queens College in New York City. She is also author of 'Bibliotherapy in the Bronx,' a book to be published in April. Reading offers a break from work and caring for other people, she said, and it can also be a way to gain personal insights. What stories teach us about ourselves Books often have powerful effects on people, making readers cry or causing them to get angry. 'If an emotion comes up for you while you're reading, there's some information there for you,' Rumble said. If readers stop and think about what's making them have the reactions they're experiencing, they can gain valuable knowledge about themselves. Similarly, she said, if readers find themselves connecting emotionally with certain characters, they should consider what's making them attach to those individuals. Rumble recommended readers keep journals on hand to write down what they learn about themselves. Reading about and reflecting on a topic also can provide an opportunity to see things from other people's points of view and even to reconsider your beliefs, Rumble said. 'We can realize that, OK, maybe I am thinking about something in black-and-white terms. Or maybe I am catastrophizing a little bit too much,' she said. 'Sometimes we read something (to help) reframe our perspective.' Rumble said stories also remind readers that they're not the only ones who are suffering. 'We're all impacted by the same societal ills, maybe on different levels, in different ways,' she said. This realization can help people feel less alone. Knowing who you are as a reader is important, whether you're a fan of historical fiction, science fiction, biographies, romance, young adult fiction or something else. Your local librarian or a site like Goodreads can help. The device for reading is your choice. Some people like audio books, while others read hard copies or use e-readers. What matters is that it's enjoyable for the person. Reading with a professional While some people like me find reading to be a way to relax and gain insights on our own, Rumble said therapists also prescribe books to their patients as a form of learning and healing. 'Traditional talk therapy, having a therapist ask you very personal questions or details about traumatic experiences, can feel really harrowing,' she said. 'When you're looking at it through the lens of a fictional character,' she said, 'it becomes a lot easier to talk about some of those painful memories or to consider different experiences that you've had.' Don't set book goals Despite the benefits of books, people have been reading less. The average American read 12.6 books during the previous year — the lowest number since 1990 — according to a 2022 Gallup survey. As a college professor, I find that, overall, my students read less now than they did when I started teaching a decade ago. But Rumble advised that it's best not to set goals for how many books you'll get through in a week or a year. Once we start focusing on how much we're reading, 'we take the joy away from the benefits of slowing down,' she said. Rumble recently spent two months reading Imani Perry's book 'Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People.' As she read along, she listened to blues music and checked out other books that Perry referenced. 'I feel like that's when reading gets really enjoyable because you're really engaging, not just with the text, but you're having fun with what the author is trying to impart to you as a reader,' she said. When I want to escape to Italy, I love soaking in Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels and Jo Piazza's 'The Sicilian Inheritance.' Reading Donna Tartt's 'The Goldfinch' recently reminded me of the power of art and prompted me to take my young daughters to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they were mesmerized by artifacts from ancient Egypt. Reading can be a powerful way of escaping, relaxing and realizing truths about ourselves and the world. That's why I'm heading back to India tonight.
New York Times
24-02-2025
- Health
- New York Times
These 5 Books Might Make You a Better Friend
Emely Rumble, a therapist in New York City who brings literature into her practice, knows that reading can help people reflect on their lives. In the summer of 2024, she hosted a book group discussion on 'Fighting for Our Friendships,' by Danielle Bayard Jackson. As the group analyzed how someone in the book handled a challenging friendship, a group member had 'an emotional breakthrough,' Ms. Rumble recalled. The group member realized she'd tackled her own issue the opposite way, Ms. Rumble explained, and decided to take action that night. She sent her old friend a voice message, and after years of silence, the pair began repairing their friendship, Ms. Rumble said. Friendships are vital to our health, the research shows, yet they often take a back seat to romantic relationships. 'There are so few resources devoted to the topic,' said Miriam Kirmayer, a clinical psychologist in Montreal who focuses on social connection. But books, she said, can give us tools for creating and sustaining meaningful bonds. These five titles, recommended by counselors, researchers and health professionals, explore how to build, nurture and repair your friendships — helping you shift your mind-set and find more joy in them. 'Platonic' by Marisa G. Franco This book, published in 2022, was the top recommendation from our experts. In it, Dr. Franco explores the psychology and neuroscience behind adult friendships, explaining how they affect our mental and physical health. Alexandra Solomon, a psychology professor at Northwestern University and host of the 'Reimagining Love' podcast says she appreciates how Dr. Franco uses attachment theory, which explains how our early relationships shape our future connections, to help readers 'create emotional safety and security within our friendships.' 'We typically see this model applied to romantic relationships,' said Matt Sosnowsky, a therapist and the founder of Philadelphia Talk Therapy. 'However, it's just as relevant with friendships because connection, of any sort, is both wonderful and scary.' 'Platonic' offers solutions for reaching secure attachment in friendships, Mr. Sosnowsky said. He cited its practical tips to help the reader experiment with vulnerability, like extending an invite to a new friend and opening up 'about the things in life that bring us pain, or even shame.' 'The Other Significant Others' by Rhaina Cohen This 2024 title 'looks at what happens when we give friendships the same weight and significance as romantic relationships,' said Ms. Rumble, whose forthcoming book, 'Bibliotherapy in the Bronx,' chronicles her experience leading the therapy book group. Ms. Cohen interviewed people all over the United States who had built friendships that 'brought together financial interdependence and domestic interdependence,' Dr. Solomon said, illustrating how full someone's life can be without a traditional romantic partner. Eli J. Finkel, a psychology professor at Northwestern University and a host of the 'Love Factually' podcast, likes how Ms. Cohen asks 'whether our tendency today to center the romantic relationship is promoting versus undermining human welfare.' This book, he said, 'demonstrates that people can live deep, meaningful lives that don't revolve around a romantic partner.' 'Big Friendship' by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman The longtime friends (and podcast hosts) Ms. Sow and Ms. Friedman wrote this 2020 book as a 'real-life account of their friendship,' said Erica Schwartzberg, a psychotherapist in New York City. Mixing research with their personal stories, the authors offer insights for maintaining friendships. For instance, they unpack the term 'shine theory,' which is the idea that when your friends succeed, you do too. And they argue that the key ingredient for a lasting friendship is effort. At one point, these friends even turned to a couples' counselor for help. Ms. Schwartzberg said that she recommends this book to her clients in their 20s and 30s, because it 'depicts the complexities and challenges that arise in rich friendships.' 'The Art of Loving' by Erich Fromm First published in 1956, this classic is a 'wise philosophical treatise' on what it actually means to love someone, Dr. Finkel said. Mr. Fromm argues that love helps us become the best version of ourselves, said Dr. Franco, the author of 'Platonic.' But he's 'pretty critical of romantic love,' she added, as it can be a selfish attempt to 'complete' ourselves through another person. Instead, Mr. Fromm supports 'brotherly love,' or friendship, as 'the more powerful form of love,' she said. 'The Art of Loving' also presents the idea that love is not simply a feeling but a practice, said Anthony Jack, a professor of ethics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Love in action: 'I can't think of a more accurate or profound definition of friendship,' Dr. Finkel said. 'The Friendship Cure' by Kate Leaver Our friendships are crucial to our health, argues Ms. Leaver in this 2018 call-to-arms that explores what friendship is, why it matters and how we can make the most of it. Reflecting on the loneliness epidemic, Ms. Leaver says friendship is a potential cure. The book blends research with personal stories from people she interviewed, offering tools to nurture friendships, as well as ways to repair broken connections. 'This book truly breaks down why we need friendship to survive, why we crave it when it is feeling scarce, and how we've evolved to seek out connection with other humans,' said Chelsea Sarai, a Los Angeles psychologist. She recommends it to clients, and added that it's an important reminder of the value of authentic connection 'in an increasingly digital world.'
