The Book Therapy Method™

From investment banking to bibliotherapy

Bijal's journey into bibliotherapy began after completing a part-time diploma in psychodynamic counselling, during which she was also in therapy herself. At the time, she was working in investment banking, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Warwick in the UK.

During her own therapy sessions, she noticed a recurring pattern: whenever she explored a personal issue, she instinctively turned to books to better understand the context. Her therapist would often recommend books, Greek myths, or simple stories to illustrate key points, and it was then that she realised the profound power of literature as a tool for healing and self-discovery.

Developing the method

This realisation sparked years of research. Bijal connected with leading bibliotherapy experts including Dr. Pirjo Suvilehto (University of Oulu) and Dr. Kelda Green (University of Liverpool), and studied the historic pioneers of therapeutic reading.

Over time, she developed a three-step methodology for curating reading lists and selecting books to address a wide range of personal and mental health themes, from anxiety and depression to mid-life transitions, relationship difficulties, grief, and bereavement, spanning fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. This work became the foundation of The Book Therapy Method™.

Founding Book Therapy

After leaving her role at Deutsche Bank in London, Bijal officially launched Book Therapy, a bibliotherapy and literary curation service. Initially offering one-on-one bibliotherapy sessions and a personalised book prescription service, Book Therapy has since grown into a broader practice, including the Signature Bibliotherapy, Literature and Mental Health Online Course, which is now used by individuals as well as counsellors, psychotherapists, life coaches, librarians, and social workers around the world.

Her work has inspired corporate workshops and library seminars, and further courses including the Children's Bibliotherapy Skills Online Course, the Raising A Reader & Storyteller Course, the Indian Rasa Theory & Bibliotherapy Course, and the Freud and Fairy Tales Course.

The book

Bijal is the author of Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading, which serves as a culmination of this journey, offering readers tools and insights to embark on their own bibliotherapy practice.

Her book recommendations have featured in The Guardian, NBC News, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, BBC Culture, Marie Claire, Asian Voice, and many other publications. She is a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and the American Library Association, and lives in Hampstead, London with her family. You can find Bijal's Press and Writing Portfolio here.

Corporate workshops and speaking engagements

Bijal has delivered training, workshops and speaking engagements for the United Nations, the NHS, DWS Asset Management and Storytel, as well as international libraries, both public and private, members clubs, and literature festivals including the Cheltenham Literature Festival and PORTO LEV 2026.

For training or speaking inquiries, please reach out to hello@booktherapy.io.

Podcasts and writing

Bijal hosts the podcast Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, exploring the healing power of literature and sharing insights from bibliotherapy practice. She is also the co-host of the limited series podcasts, Raising a Reader & Storyteller with Sunita Shah and Pages and Play: The Power of Bibliotherapy and Play Therapy on Young Minds with Freya Howard. She also writes the popular Substack newsletter, Bibliotherapy with Bijal.

Get in touch

For joining and registration details for the certification pathways, including eligibility criteria, contact Bijal Shah at bijal@booktherapy.io.