The Bibliotherapist Will See You Now?

Maybe it's because I'm a perch librarian, but I must say I find the new concept of the "bibliotherapist" a bit strange.  The idea is you go to someone who will "prescribe" books according to what's going on in your life to help you feel better or overcome whatever you're going through.

Bibliotherapy is nothing new, although it's gaining more attention and popularity through books such as The Little Paris Bookshop, which centers on a bookseller who considers himself a "literary apothecary."  Many people have turned to books to read about others like them and see how they handle situations similar to their own.  For instance, a lonely, single woman may read books about how other lonely, single women live their lives to the fullest.  A recently divorced man might want to peruse books about others who have gone through the agony of divorce.  Bibliotherapy is a great way to gain validation that we're not alone in our experiences.

Earlier, we served as our own bibliotherapists seeking books that fit what we needed at the moment, and if we had trouble finding material, we enlisted the help of friendly perch librarians to recommend titles that would be helpful to us.  The librarians' services were and continue to be free of charge whereas bibliotherapists can charge roughly $125 for their services.  Ouch!

As far as I'm aware, there's no accredited program to train biblbiotherapists and there's no guarantee of privacy between bibliotherapists and clients.  In contrast, all librarians are required to have a masters degree from an accredited school of library science and they're expected to follow the Library Bill of Rights, which includes a provision for privacy.

To be clear, the relationship between librarians and patrons is similar to that between doctors and patients.  What you tell us stays with us; we're not supposed to tell others what library questions you've had.  We're also not supposed to tell anyone what library materials you checked out, now or in the past.  This is to protect your privacy and free speech, something ensured by the U.S. Constitution.  The majority of librarians are passionate about protecting the privacy of those they serve, but can the same be said about bibliotherapists?

Perhaps I'm biased as a perch librarian, but I can't help wondering why someone would spend their hard earned cash for the services of someone who has no degree or certification and who has no obligation to keep matters private, while they can seek the services of a bona fide professional for free?

Bibliotherapeutically yours from the perch.