Revisioning the Self: A Phenomenological Investigation Into Self‐Help Reading

Abstract

The helpfulness of self‐help reading was explored through interviews with 6 female self‐help readers. Themes derived through phenomenological data analysis suggested that there is a distinct structure to the self‐help reading experience, including self‐help reading as a medium for revisioning of self. Implications for counseling practice and research are provided.

The Process of Therapeutic Reading: Opening Doors for Counselor Development

“…Sweeney (2008) noted that books helped women incarcerated in prison create "new connections, new meanings, and new relationships-to the characters in the books or their authors, to themselves, to the other members of the group, to the society and culture in which they live" (p. 305). This study confirms the recommendation that counselors should consider incorporating therapeutic reading into the group counseling modality (Bruneau et al, 2010).…”

“…Indeed, knowing how clients may experience an intervention firsthand and the potential limitations of an intervention, such as therapeutic reading, is essential in becoming a competent and effective clinician. Bruneau et al (2010) discovered that self-help readers engaged in a process of self-change through the reading process, thereby developing hope, gaining a greater understanding of self and situation, and making a choice to carry out change. As the participants progressed through similar reading phases, they engaged in a similar reevaluation process.…”

“…In a recent study, Bruneau, Bubenzer, and McGlothlin (2010) examined the reading phenomenon from the perspective of the self-help reader. The researchers discovered a dual nature to the helpfulness of self-help reading as reading has both head (cognitive) and heart (emotive) knowledge.…”

“…In addition, as readers journeyed through the reading process, they engaged in a process of self-change, or a re-visioning of self. Specifically, reading provided an opportunity for the readers to: (a) develop a sense of hope that self-change is possible; (b) gain a greater understanding of self and situation; (c) reevaluate the self, relative to the situation; and (d) make choices and commitments to carry out change (Bruneau et al, 2010). The authors suggested several recommendations for professionals who utilize therapeutic reading, including: (a) attending to the connective dimension and the balance of head and heart knowledge by maximizing the fit between the reader and the book, and (b) facilitating sharing and reflecting of the reading process through individual discussion and reading groups (Bruneau et al, 2010).…”

She reads, he reads: gender differences and learning through self-help books

“…Existing studies tend to interpret the meaning of self-help books, and then impute the supposed impact of those books on those who read them. There are some exceptions to this pattern; existing works that have undertaken original research with actual readers of self-help literature include Barker, 2002;Bruneau, Bubenzer, & McGlothlin, 2010;Gabriel & Forest, 2004;Grodin, 1991;Knudson, 2013;Lichterman, 1992;Ogles, Craig, & Lambert, 1991;Scholz & Forest, 1997;and Simonds, 1992. When it comes to exploring gender differences, the gap between theoretical interest and research involving self-help readers is even wider. Of the nine works identified above as having undertaken direct research with self-help readers, five were conducted exclusively with female participants (Barker, 2002;Bruneau, Bubenzer, & McGlothlin, 2010;Grodin, 1991;Scholz & Forest, 1997;and Simonds, 1992).…”