Title: The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency

Author: Melody Beattie

Themes: Anxiety, Communication, Coping Skills, Developing Empathy, Developing Perspective, Gratitude, Grief, Individuation, Mindfulness, Parenting, Self-Esteem

Age Recommendation: Adult Reference

Title: Harry Potter Series

Author: J.K. Rowling

Themes: Anxiety, Bullying, Blended Families, Coping Skills, Depression, Developing Empathy, Developing Perspective, Friendship, Gratitude, Grief, Humor, Individuation, Self-Esteem

Age Recommendation: Elementary through High School

Summary: The Harry Potter series is very well-known among adolescents and preteens, but I am finding that many kids under the age of 10 aren't as familiar with it. Chances are, however, if you're reading this post, you are familiar with this series and it's fantastic array of characters and themes! As with most stories, the books are definitely better than the movies, so pick them up and read them if you haven't already! 

Ideas / Interventions: There really are endless ways to use the Harry Potter series for bibliotherapy. My favorite way to reference Harry Potter in a session is to draw similarities between client's fears of ____________ and everyone's fear of Voldemort in the stories. By overcoming the dread of saying Voldemort's, or even Tom Riddle's, name out loud, characters in the story realize a previously untapped power within themselves. The same is true of our own fears and anxieties. When children avoid talking about difficult or frightening topics,their feelings of powerlessness over that event/thought/emotion is increased. When they are coached in talking about the topic in a safe setting, they are empowered - just like saying "Voldemort" empowered characters in the Harry Potter series. Clinically, this process falls under the category of exposure/response prevention techniques.  

Title: Come To Your Senses: Demystifying the Mind-Body Connection

Author: Stanley Block, MD, & Carolyn Block

Themes: Anxiety, Communication, Developing Perspective, DBT, Coping Skills, Mindfulness

Age Recommendation: Adult Reference

Title: The New Codependency: Help and Guidance for Today's Generation

Author: Melody Beattie

Themes: Anxiety, Communication, Coping Skills, Developing Empathy, Developing Perspective, Gratitude, Grief, Individuation, Self-Esteem, Validation

Age Recommendation: Adult Reference

Title: Because of Winn Dixie

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Themes: Anxiety, Coping Skills, Developing Empathy, Developing Perspective, Divorce, Friendship, Gratitude, Grief, Individuation, Self-Esteem, Social Skills

Age Recommendation: Elementary though Junior High School

Summary: Because of Winn-Dixie is a sweet story about a girl and her dog. She feels like a stray kid when she rescues this stray dog, who becomes the catalyst for change in her life. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal is able to create new friendships, strengthen her relationship with her dad, and begin to make peace with her mom. 

Ideas / Interventions: This is a great book to read in small portions during sessions or groups. Have kids draw pictures of their family, friends, and other important people in their life and discuss the hard and easy things about those relationships. Ask them to make a list of qualities they look for in a friend and see which of those qualities they see in characters in the book. Then have them make a list of their own qualities and talk about how to strengthen them. 

Another idea is to have your client read the book outside of sessions and choose one character they feel they can relate to. Ask them to make a list of the character's strengths and challenges, and then guide them through the process of deconstructing the challenges to determine how to moderate them with their strengths. After they have done this for the character in the book, help them do a similar exercise related to their own personal strengths and challenges.