Reading the Asclepieion: Bibliotherapy as a practice integrating ancient modes of healing

Abstract

Bibliotherapy is presented as one of six therapeutic modes of being-in-the- world that were concentrated in the Asclepieia, the holistic healing centres of Ancient Greece. An experiential exercise in therapeutic reading, alongside findings with present-day participants, is used to explore possible reasons for the centrality of bibliotherapy in the Ancient therapeutic practice and its continuing importance today in people’s self-therapeutic experiences.