There is no one perfect path to addiction recovery. And at Skypoint Recovery in Akron, Ohio, we are committed to helping you find the path that best fits your individual battle with substance abuse.
Many individuals are surprised to find that creative outlets like art therapy and music therapy have positive evidence-based results for people in addiction recovery. These options work as great outlets for anxiety, depression, and trauma. But what if you could combine your love of the written word with guided mental health support in substance abuse treatment?
Book therapy is a mental health tool that can be traced back to ancient Greece. It is now used by many addiction professionals as a proven resource in substance abuse recovery. When implemented alongside other traditional therapy methods like cognitive behavioral therapy, it can help a person practice the crucial skills of empathy and perspective.
Read on to learn about what book therapy looks like at Skypoint Recovery Ohio – and how you begin your substance abuse treatment journey today.
What is Book Therapy?
The simplest definition of book therapy is any time a book is recommended by mental health professionals for their patient and then time is spent during therapy sessions discussing the book in any way.
In United States history, physician Benjamin Rush prescribed books to his patients in the 1800s. Books were also given to surviving soldiers as a healthy coping mechanism after both world wars. By 1983, the International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy was founded, giving even more credibility to the field of book therapy.
And it’s especially important to note that book therapy is more than self-help texts or memoirs of other survivors of similar life experiences. By reading a wide variety of books, short stories, poems, or plays, and discussing them in individual and group therapy settings, patients struggling with crippling mental health issues on top of addiction can find a healthy escape from their problems and learn important life skills along the way.
Types of Book Therapy
One of the best benefits of book therapy is that it can be used in a wide variety of settings. Whether in a clinical or educational setting, medical professionals can use a wide variety of literature to help patients gain insight into their lived experiences and develop a deeper understanding of how they can choose healthier outlets besides substance use in the future.
There are three main branches of bibliotherapy that are currently used by therapists:
Creative bibliotherapy
It’s easy to assume that a counselor might recommend self-help books or memoirs by individuals who have also struggled with substance use disorder in their past. Very few people consider fiction or imaginative literature a rich genre for teaching self-awareness, optimism, and important relational problem-solving. However, fiction works can often help patients gain insight into their own experiences that nonfiction texts simply cannot.
Developmental bibliotherapy
Developmental bibliotherapy uses books to help parents and adults have conversations about everyday issues with children. From school bullying to puberty, a book can often be a valuable buffer to help families and professionals talk with young adults about the changes occurring in their lives.
Clinical bibliotherapy
This type of bibliotherapy treats books as an actual prescription given to patients to help them better understand a recent diagnosis. This can especially be helpful for individuals who are trying to contextualize a new emotional disorder or who are survivors of eating disorders and working to develop new, healthy habits around food and diet in their lives. Clinical bibliotherapy reading can also help individuals destigmatize mental health issues in their lives as they move forward with better understanding and self-empathy.
How does Book Therapy Help with Substance Use Disorder (SUD)?
When used alongside other therapy models, book therapy can be a low-cost mental health solution that can be practiced individually or in a group setting.
Reading on its own has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety by lowering a person’s heart rate and easing muscle tension. In the context of substance abuse treatment, book therapy can also help patients study and practice healthy interpersonal interactions, including empathy and open communication. But most often, book therapy gives patients in addiction recovery a healthy escape from their problems, which can become a positive coping skill for the future as well.
Skypoint Recovery Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
You are not likely to find a substance abuse treatment center as dedicated as Skypoint Recovery anywhere else in Akron, Ohio. Our team of addiction specialists stands apart because we believe in treating the whole person through every step of addiction recovery.
Finding the right substance abuse treatment for your personal needs can feel overwhelming. To help get you started in the right direction, check out these frequently asked questions from our previous clients.
Do I need to work with a therapist to practice book therapy?
One of the great things about book therapy is that you can practice it on your own. As long as a person consciously reflects on how reading is impacting their life, anyone can benefit from a regular reading practice. Those who read regularly have been proven to be more compassionate, as well as better at problem-solving and picking up social cues.
Who benefits most from book therapy?
Book therapy has been proven to be useful in the treatment of individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, communication issues, and substance abuse.
Is book therapy covered by my insurance?
Because book therapy is never offered on its own, you shouldn’t have to worry about insurance coverage. As long as your insurance plan offers mental health services as part of your substance abuse treatment coverage, you’re good to go.
If you have any questions about your insurance provider and how it impacts the cost of your addiction rehab care, please don’t hesitate to call Skypoint Recovery Ohio.
The Skypoint Recovery Difference
As one of the largest cities in the state of Ohio, Akron is known for its diverse art scene and beautiful historic buildings. But when you choose the road to a sober life at Skypoint Recovery, you will get to enjoy the quiet and peaceful side of Akron culture.
At Skypoint Recovery, we will help you get away from the noise and chaos of your daily life so you can focus on your individual mental and physical needs. Our main goal of Skypoint Recovery substance abuse treatment is to help you take control of your life again!
Contact Skypoint Recovery today to learn how we can best help support you on your journey toward rehabilitation.