The threshold of adolescence. Moving into an in-between. Not an adult. Not a child. The confusion. The pressure. The child fighting to live longer. The girl wanting to be noticed. The tension you don't understand when the focus shifts from words suddenly to lips. The changes you try to hide, yet wanting to be the charmer of the room at the same time. The world around you shifting all at once. And still— the exams hanging over you like a verdict on intellig

Understanding Anxiety: Recognising It and Finding Your Way Through Anxiety is that unsettling feeling that disrupts your peace. It affects everyone, especially young people today. Unfortunately, it is one of the most misunderstood and frequently dismissed experiences that young individuals face. How often have you heard a child express worry only to be told not to be silly? How many teenagers have shared feelings of being overwhelmed, only to be told they are overreacting? Ma

What It Looks Like, Why It Matters and How Books Can Help Often mistaken for sadness, depression in teenagers is not the same as sadness. It is not a phase. It is not attention-seeking. It is not something a young person can simply snap out of with the right attitude or a good night's sleep. It is a serious, recognised medical condition that affects how a young person thinks, feels and functions in every area of their life. And it is far more common than most parents and educ

Self-harm is when a person deliberately hurts their own body as a way of coping with overwhelming emotional distress. It is important to understand that self-harm is not usually an attempt to end one's life. Instead, it is most often an attempt to manage unbearable feelings when no other coping mechanism feels available. Young people who self-harm are not seeking attention in the dismissive sense that phrase is sometimes used. They are communicating distress in the only langu

Grief, that moment when you can’t help the tears and sorrow that come from suffering deep loss and endless pain. I have been there, and I know you have as well. Grief does not wait for a convenient moment. It arrives in the middle of a school day, during an exam, in the lunch hall when everyone else is laughing. For many students, there is no language for what they are carrying and no space in the school day to carry it. Books can offer what the school day cannot. A private s

Have you ever watched your child disappear into a book and emerge from it somehow lighter, somehow more themselves, then you have already witnessed bibliotherapy at work. Bibliotherapy is the practice of using books to support emotional wellbeing and mental health. The word comes from the Greek biblion meaning book and therapeia meaning healing. It is not a new idea. Ancient Greeks inscribed the words "healing place for the soul" above their library doors. Today, it is used i

In 2017, I attended an Education for Sustainability educators' institute at Shelburne Farms in Vermont. The overall experience of that one week programme and the subsequent summer institutes were defining moments that changed my practice and made me a more effective educator. One of the things that made this professional development different from others was that it provided an enabling environment for literature to sink in. The big idea of sustainability is to make the world

For Schools Every student deserves a safe place to land. Some students arrive at school having already lived a full, exhausting and sometimes frightening day before they even walk through the door. They have witnessed arguments, absorbed other people's pain, carried burdens that do not belong to them, or spent the night wondering if they are going to be okay. No lesson, however engaging, can reach a student whose heart is somewhere else entirely. The Harbour Library is built

Most people have never heard the word bibliotherapy. But if you have ever picked up a book during a hard season and felt like the author was writing directly to you, you have already experienced it. Bibliotherapy is the practice of using books as a tool for healing. It is not a new concept. Hospitals, prisons, and mental health clinics have used it for decades. But it is only recently beginning to find its way into schools, community spaces, and everyday conversations about w

Reading has long been a source of comfort and escape for many. In a world filled with stress and uncertainty, the act of immersing oneself in a book can provide solace, understanding, and even healing. This practice, known as bibliotherapy, harnesses the therapeutic power of literature to help individuals cope with emotional and psychological challenges. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of bibliotherapy, its benefits, and how you can incorporate it into your lif

In a world where emotional struggles are often brushed aside, the power of literature as a tool for healing is undeniable. Books can serve as mirrors reflecting our own experiences, offering solace, understanding, and guidance. At The Harbour Library, a treasure trove of literature awaits those seeking emotional healing. This blog post will explore various genres and titles that can aid in your journey toward emotional wellness, providing you with a roadmap to navigate your f

Academic pressures and social challenges can weigh heavily on students, the concept of bibliotherapy can emerge as a beacon of hope for students. This therapeutic approach utilizes literature as a means to foster mental wellness, offering students a unique way to navigate their emotional landscapes. By engaging with stories, characters, and themes, students can find solace, understanding, and even solutions to their own struggles. Understanding Bibliotherapy Bibliotherapy is