"We read to know we are not alone." - C.S. Lewis
Bibliotherapy is the use of books as a resource for mental health treatment or psychological disorders. Finding books that resonate with the child and exploring the book together can help children grow in comfort and find solutions to the problems they're experiencing that they may not have thought of. Wendy Laza- Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Cypress Wellness Center- uses this frequently, in combination with psychoeducation, which is used to help teach children about the feelings they experience and begin to understand them on a deeper level, as well as normalize their experiences.
The following are some of the books that Wendy often uses in therapy with children:
1. The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
Through illustrations and rhymes, this book portrays children experiencing a wide range of emotions such as pride, jealousy, frustration, and shyness. Helping children develop the skills to identify and express their emotions in a positive manner fosters their socio-emotional development, encourages empathy, and increases resilience. This book teaches children about emotion from a non-judgemental approach, emotions are neither good nor bad, they just are. Just as we learn to name the things that surround us, learning to name emotions is crucial. "Name it to tame it." as Dr. Dan Siegel says.
You can find this book in Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, Pasco County Libraries, and Hillsborough County Public Libraries Cooperative.
2. A Little Spot of Emotion by Diane Alber
A Little Spot of Emotion is an 8-book set by Diane Alber that includes the following tittles:
A Little SPOT of Anger
A Little SPOT of Anxiety
A Little SPOT of Happiness
A Little SPOT of Sadness
A Little SPOT of Love
A Little SPOT of Confidence
A Little Peaceful SPOT
A Little Scribble SPOT
Children can learn about emotions, feelings, and resilience through the little spots' stories.
3. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
This book tells the story of Liza and Jeremy through a scary storm, their mother comforts them by telling them about the Invisible String, which connects those who love each other no matter where they are, and through that connection, we are never alone. This book is a great tool to help children cope with separation anxiety, loss, abandonment, and grief. You can find this book in Pinellas Public Library Collective, Hillsborough Library Public Library Cooperative, and its previous version in Pasco County Libraries. 4. When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown
"A guide to understanding death", this book explains simply the feelings people may have after a loved one's death and how we can honor their memory. Whether they are coping with the loss of a family member, friend, or pet, this book provides children a guide through the grief process.
You can find this book in Pinellas Public Library Collective, Hillsborough Library Public Library Cooperative, and Pasco County Libraries.
Thaina Cordero is the care coordinator at Cypress Wellness Center. She has an MS in Educational Psychology and is a trained trauma-informed yoga teacher. Reach out for help identifying a therapist that better suits your health, financial, and scheduling needs. Email: thaina@cypresswellnesscenter.com Wendy Laza is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Cypress Wellness Center. She works with children, adolescents, and young adults managing anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, personal growth goals, and much more. In therapy, she integrates her clients' passions and interests as well as techniques from Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and more.
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