HJBR May/Jun 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE  I  MAY / JUN 2021 51 Jan Kasofsky, PhD Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health & Human Services Access Health Louisiana IN MY MIND’S EYE, I have traveled to London, Venice, Paris, Tehran, a small village in Burma and many more places I will likely never go. I have been inside monasteries, hospitals, book shops, trains, jails, on battlefields and ridden horse- back in Appalachia; I have time traveled into past and future centuries, and I have been in joyful and fearful situations. I have “lived” in the minds of people I will never know, but I have experienced their highs and lows, their births and deaths, and learned from the outcomes of their deci- sions. While books may serve as a respite, especially over this past year of limited activities and human interactions, they can offer us growth opportunities as well. Well-written fiction offers insights into our own emotions and struggles and can make us more empathetic toward people unlike ourselves. Unlike self-help books that are directive, a fictional story or character can present situations that fully or partially align with our own current issues or concerns. You may find yourself in a new situation, or perhaps trying to problem solve, console, advise or empathize with someone going through something you yourself have nev- er gone through. You might be surprised to find that perhaps the answer to your prob- lem, or theirs, may be found in the fictional story you are reading. Whilemost reading is for leisure, market research showed that sales of print books rose 8.2% and e-book sales were up 72% in 2020 over 2019. Surveys on pandemic reading showed that there were two types of readers: those who read new books and those who reread books for comfort. This survey begs the question of whether or not reading somehow has a therapeutic value? There are actual biological changes that occur in our brains when we read books that excite and surprise us. Stud- ies published by neuroscientists and psy- chologists report that we get a boost of dopamine, the brain chemical known to counteract depression. At the end of World War II, mental health professionals be- gan exploring the value of incorporating fiction into their therapeutic approaches. They found that assigning a book to their clients/patients and discussing it in their therapy session provided a nonthreaten- ing means to discuss painful issues. Using fictional books within a thera- peutic approach is known as “bibliothera- py.” The use of fiction is not considered a “school of therapy,”but a tool for therapists who encounter resistance. This approach can provide insights into oneself through a character or situation in the assigned book. It is thought to help patients gain insights into a difficult past or current situation by drawing connections between them and fictional characters. Bibliotherapy has been found useful with patients suffering from anxiety, addiction or other mood dis- orders; those struggling with trauma or depression; or those going through grief, a divorce or other relationship-related chal- lenges. It is also a useful tool with children and adolescents who may have trouble conceptualizing their own situation or are resistant to discussing it. Regardless of whether you read in the context of a therapeutic approach with a mental health professional or read inde- pendently, our ability to be transported through a story can bring us peace through our physiologic reactions and provide in- sights into our own struggles. Like all new endeavors, starting to read or reengaging in reading if you are cur- rently not a reader, takes a plan. Look for a specific author or story that is engag- ing; it may or may not be obvious from the start, but as you delve deeper into the book, you will likely find characters and situations that offer lessons to use with- in your own life or circumstance. If you have not read for pleasure in a while, you may be frustrated at the time it takes to read; but stick with it, and your skills will progress with less effort and distraction. Find a comfortable place to settle in and think about if you would prefer to start or end your day reading; having a cer- tain place and time to read will support your transition to be a “reader.” If reading a book does not fit into your lifestyle or schedule, you may opt to enjoy listening to a good audible book. You may want to look for opportunities to join a book club; not only will membership in the club help you select a book, it will offer time to discuss it with others to deepen your insight into the story and characters as well as provide opportunities for sis- terhood/brotherhood and making new friends. Research suggests that reading books — particularly those offering a new per- spective or taking a reader outside of their comfort zone — can increase em- pathy, tolerance for others and interper- sonal skills, such as the ability to read the emotions of others, so no matter the reason you choose to pick up a fictional book or listen to an audible, I believe that in this day and time, we can each agree, that is a very good thing. n Jan M. Kasofsky, PhD, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health and Human Services, joined Access Health Louisiana (AHL) in March 2020. In this role she is responsible for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and re- lated preventive and supportive services. Her other responsibilities include integrating behav- ioral health care into primary care and making care delivery more inclusive both in the clinic and through telemedicine. Her areas of expan- sion include trauma informed care, treatment of opioid use disorder, infant mental health and the further implementation of evidence-based practices. She is well known as an innovator of new approaches to treatment both for existing clients/patients and for increasing access to care for special populations.