In the theoretical introduction to my master's thesis, I first present reading as a philosophical activity and its therapeutic effect. In the main part, I define the concept of bibliotherapy and its types, present its history, explore its goals, describe the bibliotherapeutic process and its four phases, and summarise the main results of research in this field. I also present the strategies for conducting a bibliotherapy session, such as the selection of literary material, the use of specific techniques and the creation of a dialogue. At the end of the theoretical part, I present the application of bibliotherapy in social work and the epistemological link between bibliotherapy and contemporary social work. The research for my master's thesis is a plural case study of two participants with whom I conducted a bibliotherapeutic process using fiction. The research questions relate to the course of the bibliotherapeutic process according to the four phases, the facilitating and inhibiting factors in the process and the participants' gains. Data was collected through standardised questionnaires after each meeting, through observation that I made as researcher and process leader, and through a final in-depth interview. The data processing is combined and focuses on qualitative analysis with open and axial coding. The results show that the participants gained new insights and guidelines for the future in the process and that they perceive bibliotherapy as a creative method that promotes a different way of thinking. The phase of identification of the participant with the literary character/narrative proves to be the most important for the process itself, as it has a significant influence on the other three phases: projection, catharsis and insight. The most stimulating factors are the work of the process guide and the use of specific techniques, especially working with metaphors/symbols and creative writing. Given the fact that the application of bibliotherapy is little known Slovenia and little used, further research in this area would help to educate practitioners and increase the use of the method in social work practise.
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