Author Ann Cleeves funds ‘bibliotherapy’ service to help people heal with books

The author was in Yorkshire 15 years ago when she herself found comfort in a bibliotherapy project.

She was working for Kirklee Libraries when chief librarian Catherine Morris came up with the idea to hire three therapists from general physician practices to help patients with chronic pain and depression, according to an article Cleeves wrote in the Guardian. 

Cleeves says she was in need of an escape of her own around that time and had found it books. 

“I think it certainly worked wonders for me when I’ve been just that low or fed up or miserable. Just finding somewhere else to go in a book is a great solace,” she said.