Books Can Help
Self-Help Book Scheme
There is good evidence that self-help books can be very effective in helping people with emotional problems. Books can either be used as the main source of help or in addition to prescribed medication or counselling. The use of self-help books is known as "bibliotherapy".
Our self-help book scheme means that GPs and others can prescribe high quality self-help books from a list. All the books are recommended by psychologists and counsellors.
Most of the books are written by leading psychologists and many are self-help versions of established treatment programmes.
Problems addressed by the books on our list include:
- Depression
- Panic
- Lack of confidence
- Anger
- Low self-esteem
- Eating disorders
- Obsessional compulsive disorder
- Social phobia
- Sexual abuse and its aftermath
How the scheme works
GPs and other professionals will give you a prescription for a book according to your needs. You can then request to borrow the book at your local library or mobile library in Dorset. There is no cost to you. All the books on the list are in print and can be ordered through bookshops if you wish to buy them.
The Dorset Library Service is free to join.
Telephone: 01305 225000 or go to www.dorsetforyou.com/libraries for further information.
The new NHS Dorset came into being on 1 October 2006. The Trust was formed by the merger of North Dorset Primary Care Trust, South West Dorset Primary Care Trust and South and East Dorset Primary Care Trust.
If you need to contact services provided by one of the former primary care trusts, please use the existing telephone numbers in the relevant leaflets.