a promise to elenore

8/13/2019 A Promise to Elenore

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Running head: A PROMISE TO ELENORE: A LAYPERSONS LOOK AT BIBLIOTHERAPY

A Promise to Elenore: A laypersons look at Bibliotherapy (2013)

Kari Wilfong

Southern New Hampshire University


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A PROMISE TO ELENORE: A LAYPERSONS LOOK AT BIBLIOTHERAPY 2

A Promise to Elenore: A Laypersons look at Bibliotherapy

Not too long along ago if you had asked me what bibliotherapy was I would have given

an incredulous look for a response. It was when I had read Dean Trippes Something Terrible

and how he through his artwork dealt with his own experience of being raped as a child, that I

started having a far greater appreciation of my own works of fan fiction. When I had started

research on this paper, it was then I had learned what the term bibliotherapy was.

To use myself as an example I wroteA Promise to Elenorea self insert piece of fan

fiction that placed me within the story alongside the fictional character (

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Elenore Baker from the

anime series Madlax in this case) when I had a period when the suicidal thoughts were becoming

more and more intrusive after my last suicide attempt. Through the story I had come up with a

pledge to no longer attempt suicide or other intentional self harm. Though one might ask why I

would make such a life changing pledge to a fictional character, and to answer that question thus,

I see her as a non judgmental metaphor for my own inner strength and my very personal

commitment to live.

What this paper attempts is to explain what bibliotherapy is from the laypersons

perspective. This paper will also examine the potential pitfall of overdependence and or

experience sharing in using bibliotherapy. And finally discuss the benefits of using it. Thus in

doing so finding the answer to this question; could bibliotherapy and the creation of a fictional

narrative help with the healing process?

First, to give brief explanation of what the healing process is, then move on to what is

bibliotherapy?To begin with from a non-clinical view point such as mine, the healing process

starts out as processing an event through therapy, then over time acknowledging the event and


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then coming to terms with it so that it doesntemotionally destroy the person when confronted

with something that might trigger a flashback or other negative emotional response.

When asked What is bibliotherapy? the simple answer what appears to be a therapeutic

method where books are used in concurrence with regular therapy sessions. However, the actual

answer is far more complicated than it looks. Storytelling is old as humanity itself, yet the

practice of using written media overall in therapeutic use is less than five hundred years overall.

One of the earliest records of the use of books for treatment purposes appeared in 1272.

At this time, the Al-Mansur Hospital in Cairo provided readings from the Koranas a part of

their patients treatment. (Jack & Ronan, 2008) The reading of religious texts to the sick was

most likely a part of religious practices and not seen as a separate treatment. The power of

storytelling through the printed word to heal others was evident during that time period.

Though consistent clinical use didnt occur until late 18th

century Europe when libraries

began to appear in psychiatric hospitals, bibliotherapy was seen as a possible alternative to the

inhumane treatments used for those consider mentally ill or insane. Unfortunately it wasnt given

any real consideration until the early 20thcentury; it was then where the actual term

bibliotherapy was coined during WWI. Over the course of the century, bibliotherapy moved

from the hospitals and into communal and educational settings, as well as into the private

therapeutic system.

In its original definition, Bibliotherapy originally centered on projecting a persons

traumatic issues through a character in a relative piece of printed literature with the guidance of a

therapist. Over time since the 1970s, the media used in bibliotherapy has been expanded to

include films, television shows, cartoons, comics, and as of late anime (Japanese animation). The

ways that the media is being expressed as has varied as well; such as creative writing (or fan


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fiction), therapeutic storytelling and poetry therapy. Storytelling is a valid research

methodology that can probe deep questions on important subjects.(Davis & Warren-Findlow

2011)

For example creative writing has been instrumental in providing a voice in which a client

can express themselves. Through that expression in that fictional narrative, an individual can

start the process of dealing mostly on the subconscious level traumatic events such rape, sexual

abuse, physical and/or mental abuse or even dealing with such life altering issues as dealing

with cancer or ones impending death. The choice of a fictional character within the story is

usually one that the writer has either fondness for or can highly relate to.

Therapeutic storytelling can involve clients in constructing and narrating their own life

stories, and the creation or reading fictional stories.(McArdle, S., Byrt, R. 2001).

It is through such creative mediums that the use of the symbolic language of metaphor is used to

help the writer find their subconscious defense mechanisms, thus giving a voice to them.

Although more abstract metaphors are more likely to be seen in poetry therapy than with the

other methods as other methods are straighter forward in the symbols used such as fictional

character with a clear definition what they represent. However there is a potential pitfall in using

bibliotherapy.

While engaging in bibliotherapy in any of its forms it can be argued that the possibility

exists that one can develop an over dependence on the character(s) to the point where the

character is being applied to other aspects of the persons life. That overdependence could lead to

the character(s) being used for every minor yet tragic event, such as the death of a beloved pet or

even as a substitute partner to offset loneness. There is also the possibility that person may take


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on traits or in subconsciously take on the behavior, beliefs, thoughts and internal responses to

that of fictional characters. (Hsu 2012).

The anime fandom itself is littered with stories of some people treating their favorite

character(s) as a (though imaginary) spouse, lover or even best friend. This can progress to the

point where they feel if they engage with another person, the feelings of disloyalty and a sense of

that they have betrayed their imaginary love interest.

Though it is possible to fall into this trap, especially if someone is under a great deal of

emotional distress and/or social isolation, and stress, there is a way to avoid it. The way to avoid

the trap of overdependence is to keep it in perspective. So to keep within perspective, one must

keep in mind this important fact; that the fictional character is just that; a fictional character. In

Hsus research she found that the more youre reminded of your own self-concept and self

identity less likely you are to undergo experience taking.(Hsu 2012)

But it also can be pointed out that the character or their traits need not be totally

discarded, otherwise what wouldve been the point of using that character in the first place if the

person didnt see themselves or some positive trait(s) in that character that could help them. For

example those desirable traits seen within the fictional character (physical, mental or spiritual)

could be used as a yardstick to help them obtain a partner while keeping in mind that their

potential partner is a real person with their own personality, history as well as quirks, flaws and

uniqueness like every other human being. In spite of this potential pitfall which could be

prevented with the help of a therapist the benefits greatly outweigh the pitfall.

Research shows that by using a fictional narrative, the writer can reinvent themselves and

though the story, repair their sense of self. (Davis & Warren-Findlow 2011) While reinventing

themselves through the story can alter the character to suit their needs, for example in the


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fictional narratives I have written I visualized Elenore Baker as being in her mid forties in one

story, her twenties in another story and in yet another story in various parts having her both as a

seven year old and a tween-ager.

As a result the use of bibliotherapy can bring comfort, be a source of emotional strength

and a cathartic experience, which in turn can assist the writer and/or reader with their own

coping skills. From my own experience in the beginning when I had started writing fan fiction I

was at the having difficulty dealing with childhood rape and my own suicidal tendencies, both I

had a great deal of difficulty discussing with my therapist. Again using myself as an example,

through my writings I began to see Elenore as a positive role model or more exactly; as a mirror

to show me my own inner strengths and by acknowledging those strengths through the character,

I was able to start on talking in detail of those events with my therapist.

Using a fictional narrative can help the writer understand their own self metaphors and

thus through the telling of the story the writer can rewrite and create new mental realities for

themselves. Given this example it can be shown that the use of a fictional narrative can be

proven to be beneficial both to the writer and to any reader. And finally we can take a look at

what was discussed here and come to the conclusion.

What was discovered through this research that though bibliotherapy had been around a

few centuries. And it was only during the last century and this one that bibliotherapy was

expanded to encompass other forms of media and creative expression. It was also found that it

had the potential pitfall of the reader subconsciously taking on traits or experience sharing of

the character they were relating to. What was also found that benefits of processing and dealing

with traumatic or very life altering events through a fictional narrative by the use of


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bibliotherapy. Though more research is required, it was found that bibliotherapy and the creation

of a fictional narrative could help with the healing process.


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References

Davis, C. S., & Warren-Findlow, J. (2011). Coping With Trauma Through Fictional Narrative

Ethnography: A Primer.Journal Of Loss & Trauma, 16(6), 563-572.

doi:10.1080/15325024.2011.578022

McArdle, S., & Byrt, R. (2001). Fiction, poetry and mental health: expressive and therapeutic

uses of literature. Journal Of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 8(6), 517-524.

doi:10.1046/j.1351-0126.2001.00428.x

Hsu, C. (2012, 05 14).Psychologists discover how people subconsciously become their favorite

fictional characters. Retrieved fromhttp://www.medicaldaily.com/psychologists-

discover-how-people-subconsciously-become-their-favorite-fictional-characters-240435

Jack, S. J., & Ronan, K. R. (2008). Bibliotherapy: Practice and research. School Psychology

International May 2008, 29(2), 162-182. doi: 10.1177/0143034308090058

RECOMMENDED WORKS

Madlax (2004) produced by Bee Train studio. This is the anime series in which Elenore Baker

comes from. A psychological and somewhat surreal action packed thriller series that

shows the effects of trauma on an individual.

Something Terrible (2013) by Dean Trippe. An excellent illustration of how art can help with

the healing process. This story was one of the major inspirations for this paper.
http://www.medicaldaily.com/psychologists-discover-how-people-subconsciously-become-their-favorite-fictional-characters-240435http://www.medicaldaily.com/psychologists-discover-how-people-subconsciously-become-their-favorite-fictional-characters-240435http://www.medicaldaily.com/psychologists-discover-how-people-subconsciously-become-their-favorite-fictional-characters-240435http://www.medicaldaily.com/psychologists-discover-how-people-subconsciously-become-their-favorite-fictional-characters-240435http://www.medicaldaily.com/psychologists-discover-how-people-subconsciously-become-their-favorite-fictional-characters-240435http://www.medicaldaily.com/psychologists-discover-how-people-subconsciously-become-their-favorite-fictional-characters-240435


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NOTE: Elenore Baker and Madlax are the property of Bee Train Studio and their use in thisdocument falls under the Copyright Act of 1976, for educational purposes and is not intended asa challenge to that copyright.

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