Have you come across bibliotherapy? Maybe better known as self-help?
A couple of years ago, we bought a few books that came under the category of bibliotherapy, self-help or student support, and indexed them so they'd be easy to find. We knew at the time that these weren't the first self-help books we'd bought, but we didn't try to identify all the others that we'd already got in stock.
Today, we can offer students and staff quite a range of materials to help with the kind of personal challenges that crop up surprisingly often, whether it's anxiety, depression, dependency or other types of problem.
No replacement for a professional consultation, obviously, but sometimes a good book is a worthwhile thing in itself. Do take a look. There are probably more in the library, but this is more than a good start!
Bibliotherapy in the Whittaker Library
Students at RCS are urged to contact our Student Counsellor, Jane Balmforth, or seek other professional help, for any concern that's making things difficult.
The Whittaker Library at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is adding to its stock of self-help books - bibliotherapy, you might call them. Dr Jane Balmforth, the Conservatoire's student counsellor, recommended these titles.
Students needing a bit of support, or staff seeking to support them, may like to check our catalogue to see if there's something there to help them. Sixteen titles and rising ...
Jane Balmforth further suggests...
If you require out of hours support please contact one of the following agencies:
- Samaritans: 0845 790 9090
- Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87
- SANEline: 0845 767 8000 Open 6pm - 11pm every day
- NHS Direct: 111
- Your GP
- You can access help in a crisis from your local Accident & Emergency Department (24 hours)
The Whittaker Library staff are all of a-flutter, pleading to be the first to read this book about procrastination.
There's only one problem. Whoever borrows it has to sit down and read it, because if they procrastinate, no-one else will ever see it ...
By Andrea Perry
- Andrea Perry's consultancy website - HERE.
- Whittaker Library copy of her book - HERE.
This book is one of many that we're ordering, to support our student and staff in a more holistic way. We call it bibliotherapy .... see what has arrived so far, HERE.
