A bibliotherapy project for children with social anxiety

The purpose of this project is to provide a bibliotherapy resource for caregivers to use with children who are experiencing shyness or social anxiety. The project includes a thematic literature review on social anxiety that covers etiology, intervention, prevention and research on the use of bibliotherapy in treating social anxiety. Information that emerged from the literature was used to create a bibliotherapy resource in the form of a children’s picture book entitled Quiet Ira. The book is coupled with a guide for caregivers on how to use the book as a bibliotherapy tool with a child who struggles with social anxiety. The story features a young girl who experiences social anxiety and is supported by caring adults in her life to manage the social anxiety. Interventions introduced in the story and caregiver guide include: psychoeducation, positive self-talk, exposure therapy, supportive relationship, mindfulness, social skills, externalizing, and references to other resources.