The practice of bibliotherapy in the process of coping with grief

Abstract

Grief can be considered a feeling of deep sorrow and sadness experienced after the loss of someone significant. In some cases, it becomes a painful process, marked by difficulty in acceptance and the presence of distress and anguish. In these circumstances, having a support network is essential, and in some cases, seeking the assistance of a mental health professional. In this context, reading is presented as a welcoming resource, capable of helping to reframe feelings. Bibliotherapy thus emerges as a practice that supports coping with grief. The objective of this study was to survey texts with therapeutic potential recommended by Brazilian authors who have published on bibliotherapy in the field of information science. This is a qualitative, basic
research study with an exploratory objective. As methodological procedures, a questionnaire was used to collect data and review the literature based on texts by authors identified in the Information Science Database. The results revealed that, although authors in the field do not directly address the topic of grief in their publications, they do provide relevant references to works that they consider to have therapeutic potential. These references to texts can contribute to the practice of bibliotherapy aimed at the bereaved, offering reading paths that function as emotional
support in the process of coping with loss. Thus, the study highlights gaps to be explored, but also points to possibilities for using reading as a resource for care in the field of Information Science.