by TANIA OLIVARES
Staff Member
There has been a notice of clients seeking out to Alison Kerr Courtney’s office to seek some help from her. This help is in the form of a reading list. Alison Kerr Courtney used to be a french ELA teacher for ten years. She has also worked at the library during this period of time. The article claims that Courtney has, “…had a knack for matching people with books that fit with their intellectual interests. But some clients want more when they make an appointment with her at her office in Lexington, Kentucky”(Christensen 1). This treatment has been known as “bibliotherapy”, or emotional/mental treatment by the form of reading books. With this treatment, Courtney shared that reading the books she suggests would help with goals and emotional issues. As this topic has been researched, it was discovered that works of fiction are the main factor in helping people out in this type of therapy. Fiction works were known to spread the topics of social and emotional tropes that happen modern-day, which help the reader establish new ideas to help cope with their own problems. These works of fiction also help these people understand others. Studies have also shown how characters within the books can help establish connections between them and the reader. The article explains this by claiming, “That means reading books could improve your love life, your family life, your relationships at work. That’s because as you learn about Mrs. Dalloway’s worries as she shops for flowers or you witness Harry Potter struggle to control his powers in front of his neglectful muggle family, you contrast that experience with your own”(Christensen 1-2). With these knowledgeable traits of bibliotherapy, the use of fiction towards growing empathy is highly important. As discussed, it helps with relationships, and may also reach as far as to help a person cope with social issues with a good heart and open-mindedness.