Where Story Meets Practice
Participants from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria gathered for the 2025 Brisbane Bibliotherapy Training.
Earlier this year, a group of counsellors, library professionals, psychologists, academic wellbeing specialists, community workers and reflective readers gathered in Brisbane for the Building Bibliotherapy Skills training.
Over three days, they explored what it means to bring story into the work of wellbeing, connection and care.
There were moments of quiet reading, laughter and deep reflection as participants experienced bibliotherapy as readers first, before learning to guide others with presence and compassion.
One participant captured it beautifully:
“Susan’s heart-centred presence and delivery were exceptional. She created a safe and supportive learning environment for deep reflections.”
Reflections from Brisbane
“Susan’s insightful 3-day course has not only been of great value professionally but more importantly personally. I was wonderstruck by her unparalleled knowledge of all things bibliotherapy. A truly life-changing experience.”
— Kim, Public Librarian
“The workshop exceeded my expectations and has had an immediate, tangible impact on my practice. I feel well-equipped and excited to use these skills in my work.”
— Florence, Therapist
“Experiencing Susan’s Wholehearted Bibliotherapy course is an incredibly immersive experience, full of heart, soul and wisdom. It gives you all the tools you need to facilitate your own unique bibliotherapy journey.”
— Julia, Counsellor
“During the Bibliotherapy training, Susan asked us to consider the wellbeing principles that will guide our practice. With such generosity and care, she invited each of us to shape our own approach to bibliotherapy.”
— Karen, Educator and Strategist
“I was thrilled to spend three days discovering that books can be more than entertaining stories—they can help people seeking to understand life. The training was everything I had hoped for.”
— Ross, Community Health Practitioner
2026 In-Person Training: Warrnambool, February, 4-6
The next Building Bibliotherapy Skills training will be held at the Warrnambool Library and Learning Centre, from 4–6 February 2026—a wonderful reason to visit this beautiful coastal town and spend three days immersed in reflective reading and bibliotherapy facilitation.
This course integrates story with neuroscience and psychological theory. Participants learn to guide sessions that honour literature, promote reflection, encourage insight and foster deeper connection through story—balancing biblio and therapy to support understanding while enriching practice.
Whether your background is in counselling, psychology, libraries, education, community wellbeing, or you simply hold interest in this work, you’ll leave with new ways to bring the transformative power of story into your work and your life.
A Warm Invitation
Bibliotherapy begins, as all good stories do, with curiosity.
If you’ve been wondering how story might support the work you do, or simply wish to experience its quiet, transformative power, you’re warmly invited to join us in Warrnambool.
Warrnambool 26_Building Bibliotherapy Skills_Course overview