Building Bibliotherapy Skills Reflections
(In Person Course)
These reflections come from participants who attended the in-person Building Bibliotherapy Skills training, offered in locations across Australia over many years.
Something special happens. Story and conversation find their own rhythm, held by a quiet that can only be shared face-to-face.
Participants from many professional backgrounds share how the in-person experience has deepened their sense of care, connection and possibility, in their work and in themselves.
Kim, Public Librarian
“Susan’s insightful 3-day face-to-face course has not only been of great value professionally but more importantly personally. I was wonderstruck by Susan's unparalleled knowledge of all things bibliotherapy. The structure, content and delivery of the course was perfect and inspirational - a truly life changing experience. Thank you, Susan."
Karen, Psychologist
“I found the course really wonderful. Susan, you were a great listener and communicator. I loved the compassion, gentle humour, and the way a range of information was conveyed and the mixture of the texts and factual information. You created a warm, collaborative atmosphere."
Elizabeth, Mental Health Program Professional
“Dr Susan McLaine brings to ‘Building Bibliotherapy Skills’ all the warmth and wisdom of her love of literature and the people who listen and are enriched by it."
Keisha, Art Therapist
“Doing the course is like walking through a door into a space that is filled with hope, compassion and showcases how therapeutically beneficial literature is. I would especially recommend the course to any art/creative therapists as it beautifully overlaps in intention, theory and practice. Bibliotherapy is a wonderful tool to support each and every person who wants to maintain good mental health. It is worth doing this course."
Keisha has also shared her reflections in a longer guest post on our blog, exploring creative practice and bibliotherapy in art therapy
Christina, Public Librarian and Meditation Teacher
“In our training sessions, Susan guided the group to experience how to engage people personally with the texts we explored, with each participant given opportunities to offer thoughtful interpretations and sharing how these readings resonate with their own journey of personal growth and self-discovery. Their contributions have not only broadened my understanding of literature’s transformative potential but have also encouraged each of us to delve deeper into the emotional and psychological insights that literature can offer.
The experiential style of the training alongside detailed notes and references to reading materials, made this course both engaging and incredibly practical.
Susan’s enthusiasm, experience and knowledge of bibliotherapy made a significant impact on my learning experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Dr Susan McLaine’s Bibliotherapy Skills course to anyone seeking to discover the transformative potential of stories in a supportive group setting. I’ve always understood the profound healing power of literature, but this training makes it possible to deliver this in a structured way, appropriate to the setting and the audience which was incredibly valuable."
Meral, Secondary School Teacher and Head of English Department
“I have been teaching for twenty-one years and have not come across teacher training that is heart focused. Bibliotherapy should be available in all organisations as part of mental health wellness. Susan guides with love, wisdom and grace."
Meral has shared her reflections in a longer guest post on our blog, exploring heart-centred teaching and bibliotherapy in education
Natalie, Hospital Librarian
“This course helped me both personally and professionally. It has an easy flow to it, in measured, well-paced modules. Susan is a compassionate, kind and thoughtful facilitator and I would recommend this course to anyone interested in promoting and participating in their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others."
Linda, Counsellor
“The Building Bibliotherapy Skills course inspired me to go on a journey of making a difference in the world. The course is well run, interesting and inspiring. Susan is a wonderful presenter and has opened my heart and mind to a world of literature and its connection to wellbeing."
Florence, Counsellor
“The 3-day workshop exceeded my expectations and has had an immediate, tangible impact on my professional practice, allowing me to transition from theory to practice with confidence. Susan's heart-centred presence and delivery were exceptional. She created a safe and supportive learning environment for deep reflections.
I've been reflecting on the course, and I'm so appreciative of the depth and care you brought to every session.
I found your guidance on group facilitation skills to be particularly insightful. The way you demonstrated how to build a safe environment and containment within the group was truly commendable. The stories and poems you've chosen demonstrates the empathy and care you provided for our learning.
I like how you safely invite the group for their personal reflection after each reading. It's a privilege to hear the questions you crafted to spark deeper engagement with the text.
As the heart-centred bibliotherapy is person-centred and aligned with trauma-informed approach, it sits comfortably alongside the counselling modalities I use in my work.
Thank you for providing us with such a strong foundation and for being such a passionate and knowledgeable guide. I feel well-equipped and excited to use these skills in my work."
Danica, Public Librarian
“I completed my Building Bibliotherapy Skills course with Susan in August. Not only did I find the training informative, knowledge building and effective in giving me the skills I need to start delivering Bibliotherapy, but the way Susan delivered session meant it was a pleasurable and relaxing experience as well. Susan’s careful planning and curation of the content and readings she shared added meaning and impact to the training, and as an attendee it gave me the experience of Bibliotherapy as well. This allowed me to absorb the benefits of Bibliotherapy in a different way, and really reflect on the potential and value it could add to the community and as a service in my organisation. Susan is so knowledgeable and passionate, and so willing to share it with you in the training. Thank you Susan.”
Julia, Counsellor
“Experiencing Susan’s Wholehearted Bibliotherapy course is an incredibly immersive experience, full of heart, soul and wisdom. The course gives you all the tools you need to be confident in facilitating your own unique Bibliotherapy journey."
Karen, Educator and Strategist
“During the Bibliotherapy training, Susan asked us to consider the wellbeing principles that will guide our Bibliotherapy practice.
Susan is a kind and wise soul. With such generosity and care, she invited each of us to shape our own unique approach to Bibliotherapy and to integrate this empathetic wellbeing practice into the design of our own programs.
What I learnt from Susan complements every conversation I have with clients, friends, and colleagues."
Karen has also shared her reflections in a guest post on our blog, exploring the incorporation of bibliotherapy into practice.
Ross, Community Health Practitioner
“In August 2025, I travelled to Brisbane, Queensland, for a three-day training on bibliotherapy—a subject I'd been interested in for a long time. I had invested a lot of time and money in travel, accommodation, and the course fee, gambling on the hope that books could be more than just entertaining stories. I hoped the course would be a pathway to help people seeking to understand life.
The gamble paid off. I was thrilled to spend three days discovering this was true. The training, delivered by Susan, was everything I had hoped for. I found Susan to be thoughtful, organised, and inclusive, and my fellow trainees were incredibly supportive.
Susan presented well, but what was especially remarkable was that she made herself available to mentor and support each participant individually."
Jennie, Public Librarian, Bibliotherapist
“Building Bibliotherapy Skills’ balances theory with activities and discussions and is designed to equip participants to confidently devise their own Bibliotherapy practice."
Rebecca, Speech Therapist
“The course was fantastic and I’m very glad that I enrolled. It was a very thought-provoking course, and Susan’s calming presence allowed easy participation. I feel that I now have a good understanding of what bibliotherapy is."
Pam, Head of School Librarian (Secondary)
“Dr Susan’s desire for others to learn how Bibliotherapy can lead to meaningful reflection, conversation and provide solace for the heart and mind is contagious."
Ellie, Osteopath
“Susan’s course is deeply nourishing. For those who love books, people, nature and healing, Susan elegantly combines this majestic quartet into a set of keys to the heart. Her keys fit the hearts of the grieving, the hurting, the lonely, the seeking, the lost, the suffering as well as the emerging, the joyous, the deeply feeling and the creative ones. Her bibliotherapy keys open doors long since closed against our chests. Dusty, guarding doors that slowly creak open as Susan begins to read aloud, allowing light into darkened places.
Susan has given me a set of tools I never knew I needed. I have long since had a deep love for books and knew they could be used for healing, but I didn’t know how. I now have a map and a candle with which to begin my journey towards using literature, poem and all written expressions of this human experience to help to relieve some of the confusion and suffering inherent in this physical world.
Susan has taught me how to access the wonderful healing power of story. The way sitting to listen to a fairytale or a poem from a compassionate other can magically restore hope to an inner child. I came away deeply inspired by Susan’s bibliotherapy course."
Renata, Tertiary Librarian
“Susan has designed a very achievable, structured introduction to bibliotherapy. The modules build on one another, and the content is accessible and digestible. The materials are supportive and useful, and the reading resources are rich, varied, and interesting. I’m really glad I did the training."
Lydia, Head of School Librarian and Mentor
“Wonderful inclusive sessions that taught all aspects of bibliotherapy, but also to be a better person in the community. I loved the modules, each taught another aspect of bibliotherapy, were well thought out, the right length and each with clear objectives and review."
Alan, Author, Counsellor and Men’s Health Advocate
“This course has opened up a new way of assisting others in the community."
Kate, Writer
“This course is wonderful – compassionate, informative and deep. It is an excellent overview of the power of literature as a healing tool and bibliotherapy’s potential to harness and facilitate this."
Alicia, exploring new careers
“You won’t regret attending. It made me wish I could attend an actual bibliotherapy session as a participant."
Caitlin, Public Librarian
“This was an insightful and delightful course to take part in. Susan delivers a well- informed and useful course that not only explains the theory of bibliotherapy, but also how to run a supportive and therapeutic experience across different disciplines."
Ann-Marie, Health Promotion, Case Manager, Community Services
“Building Skills in Bibliotherapy was a fantastic workshop. It was packed with information and tips to build our skills but thanks to Dr Susan McLaine’s kind, gentle and compassionate approach it never felt overwhelming. Her passion is infectious and I can’t wait to start sharing this wonderful modality within my own community."
Jenner, School Librarian
“This training left me feeling well prepared to begin a bibliotherapy program of my own and was delivered in a way that left me excited for what is possible."
Elsa, Public Librarian
“These three days have been illuminating and I am grateful to Susan for her knowledge, care and enthusiasm. I feel like I am ready to fill my toolbox with some heart centred tools. I wanted to let you know how grateful I am I met you and got to experience these last 3 days immersed in a wonderful heart-centred environment. An environment you created through your genuine generosity, passion and care for others. It shines through you in such a pure way Susan, you are most assuredly a wonderful light in a world that can seem dark at times."
Danielle, Public Librarian
“This training has opened my eyes to so many possibilities."
Anna, Public Librarian
“I really appreciated how it was s ‘no pressure’ environment. I was prepared to contribute to discussion but I was nervous about it and very early on you let us know that there was no pressure and completely optional with no expectations. I was totally engaged throughout – the content and presentation was so well prepared and executed."
Max, Psychologist
“Very well organised presentation. Excellent keeping to time each day. Content very thorough and extensive, well researched. Very broad knowledge of literature and therapy modules. Content is well paced. Very thoughtful, accepting, insightful. Respectful of attendees."
More testimonials from Building Bibliotherapy Skills Graduates
“Loved it! This was good timing for me. A healing journey and reconnected me to the power of literature again."
“This was an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to put this into practice. This was a very helpful and practical course. The theory behind bibliotherapy was well-explained, the ins-and-outs of running a course was well explained, and the sample texts were relevant and useful. The environment was positive and I felt comfortable and well-supported. The structure of the course was well planned and made sense over the three-day delivery."
“The course was fantastic. I felt it was paced really well and the level and detail of the information was great. I particularly like the idea of the of the psychological approaches and practices to develop an understanding the therapeutic intention."
“The course followed a progression of skills needed to go into the workplace or community and implement bibliotherapy sessions. The focus on the heart is inspiring. It beautifully wove literature, theory and practical skills together. Susan, you are a gifted presenter, inclusive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. Yet you make participants feel comfortable and valued. I loved this course and would recommend it highly to any colleagues."
“Well-paced and carefully delivered. Skilfully demonstrated how to value silence and provided time and opportunities for reflection. I feel well prepared to start implementing bibliotherapy in my own space and excited by the possibilities this training has opened up."
“I loved the course. It is innovative, creative and nurturing. It has the ability to make real and attainable change in people’s lives. Changes of the heart and mind in a positive way."
“This is the first training I have been able to absorb, ponder and sit with ideas. Learning while letting go of the noise of the world was therapeutic. I’ve gained so much insight about slowing down my approach."
“This was an amazingly comprehensive course, it covered a range of topics that help you feel supported in starting bibliotherapy. There is so much in this course to dwell over and consider how this could be applied to other disciplines. It was a rich experience."
“I found the course really wonderful. You created a warm collaborative atmosphere. Susan, you were a great listener and communicator. I loved the compassion, gentle humour and the way the information was conveyed and the mixture of texts and factual information."
“It was a very welcoming space, where I didn’t feel pushed to participate more than I felt comfortable with. This was a very good demonstration of creating a safe environment in a bibliotherapy session and made me wish I was an actual participant in a session. Having no pressure made it feel that I had control over what was being absorbed."
“The course was magnificent. I am eager and cannot wait to begin incorporating bibliotherapy into my world. Thankyou so much Susan, you truly gave me the tools to help me find my deeper truth and next manifestation of service."
“An interesting three days that allowed me to do a good deal of reflection.
The course was facilitated with heart rather than ambition. I am deeply grateful Susan."