Bibliotherapy represents the planned use of literary texts and devices to encourage awareness and processing of emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal problems in individuals with different types of psychosocial distress. As a part of expressive arts-therapies, it includes precisely formulated goals, basic stages, and methodology that are described in this paper. In addition, an overview of recent scientific research on this topic is provided in order to gain insights on the most commonly used approaches, methodologies, and outcomes obtained, as well as the effectiveness of bibliotherapy. Based on our evaluation, we concluded that the use of bibliotherapy is an appropriate complementary approach in educational settings, for children with special needs, as well as for maintaining mental health. Considering the limitations of bibliotherapy, we emphasise the need for further research with the aim of improving practical models and assessment tools. Bibliotherapy can be a promising part of a multimodal educational and rehabilitation approach that recognises the power of language arts, which simultaneously supports both realistic and transcendental aspects of human existence.

No abstract

In Croatia and other transition countries, care for a palliative patient is undergoing changes. Recently there is a growing multidisciplinary approach that aims at raising the quality of palliative care patient to a higher level. The physician-patient’s paternal relationship now assumes a model based on patient’s autonomy. Logotherapy within the autonomy model finds a significant place and importance. Everyone has the right to choose, autonomy to look at and find answers to why and how to accept personal suffering during the illness. Perceiving patients through the dimension of spirituality means recognizing their inner values with the inevitable respect for their beliefs regardless the current state or ultimate outcome of chronic, severe and incurable disease.