Blog — bibliotherapy

What Do Fairy Tales Really Tell Us?  Freud, the Unconscious, and the Hidden Language of Story For most of us, fairy tales bring to mind enchanted forests, wicked stepmothers, magical creatures, and faraway castles. These are the stories we first heard as children, nestled in bed or sitting in a circle at school—simple, fantastical tales meant to entertain, teach lessons, or lull us to sleep. But what if these stories were doing much more than that? What if, beneath their charming surfaces, fairy tales were speaking the language of the unconscious—giving shape to our deepest fears, desires, and internal conflicts?...

Dear friends, I hope this note finds you well. It’s been an exciting month in the world of bibliotherapy, and I’m delighted to share some wonderful news and upcoming opportunities with you. Book News On 4th September, the paperback edition of Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading was released. Thank you so much for your continued support of my work — it is truly appreciated. I’m also thrilled to announce that the Chinese edition of the book is now published, making bibliotherapy accessible to even more readers around the globe. International Conference in BrazilEarlier this month, I had the privilege of speaking at the first-ever International Conference on Bibliotherapy...

Bijal Shah is celebrating one year of sharing bibliotherapy reflections, resources, and book recommendations on her Substack, Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah. She's inviting readers to explore a wide range of posts on topics like anxiety, loneliness, heartbreak, family dynamics, neurodiversity, and more—including interviews and thematic literary insights.

Readers can access the full archive, and are encouraged to become paid subscribers ($5/month or $50/year, with a 20% lifetime discount via this link: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/e99b53a8 ).

Have you ever witnessed the healing power of books in action? While writing my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading, one of the most moving chapters for me was Chapter 9—on Group Bibliotherapy. It tells the story of Reena, Devi, Deborah, and Amee, who turned to shared reading after experiencing the unimaginable loss of young children or miscarriages. Writing this chapter was incredibly difficult, but also deeply affirming—because it showed just how transformative group bibliotherapy can be in navigating grief, loss, and complex emotions. Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my...

  Happy Thursday!Hope you're doing well and had a wonderful start to the new year. I wanted to share some exciting updates :)1. New Bibliotherapy CoursesFirstly, super excited to share our BRAND new course on Group Bibliotherapy that launches at the end of this month!  Pre-order with code: PREORDER and receive 30% off. You'll receive a link to access the course on 28 February 2025. Plus catch up on our new Indian Rasa and Bibliotherapy Course, that launched towards the end of last year.2. Doctors Using BibliotherapyA great week for bibliotherapy in doctors' circles :) I will be speaking at an event organised by Klip Global who...