Self-help books and bibliotherapy: Reflections for Turkey

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of self-help books with therapeutic aims; and to propose suggestions by discussing the present situation of self-help books in Turkish cultural context. Taking these aims into account, the existing literature on self-help books is initially reviewed, and a picture of the self-help books in Turkey is drawn regarding the current status of bibliotherapy. Considering Turkey, there firstly exists a confusion in differentiating between self-help books and self-development books. In addition, Turkish self-help books are mainly translations of popular western self-development books lacking the elements of Turkish culture. Thus, original Turkish self-help books are required for personal uses of the readers and professional therapeutic practices. And there is a need for further investigations regarding Turkish context as to how mental health practitioners and clients conceive and make use of self-help books.