Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah
Hi, my name is Bijal Shah and I am a bibliotherapist and founder of Book Therapy (a bibliotherapy and literary curation practice: www.booktherapy.io). I'm also the author of the book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading (https://bit.ly/bibliotherapybook). I curate book prescriptions and provide online training in bibliotherapy, more detail of this can be found on my website, www.booktherapy.io
In this podcast, I share my knowledge and research on bibliotherapy, including the latest developments, science and book recommendations.
Join me every week where we take a deep dive into Bibliotherapy.
We release two episodes a week:
1. Voicenotes fom Me, Your Resident Bibliotherapist.
2. Ask the Bibliotherapist: Book Recommendations for What's On Your Mind
Join our member-only subscription here to listen to all episodes for free. To get access to corresponding transcripts: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/subscribe
I hope you enjoy the show and if you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading (https://bit.ly/bibliotherapybook) a helpful companion.
Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like the transcripts to all episodes, you can join our member-only subscription on Substack: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/subscribe
And as always, I love hearing from listeners so if you'd like to get in touch, share any book recommendations or thoughts on bibliotherapy, you can do so at bijal@booktherapy.io
Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah
Eliza Fricker on Neurodiversity and the Power of Visual Storytelling
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In this bibliotherapy podcast interview, I interview author-illustrator Eliza Fricker (Missing the Mark) on neurodiversity, mental health, and how her daughter’s school breakdown led her to begin illustrating their experiences to process feelings of overwhelm, rage, disappointment, guilt, and isolation, later sharing the work online under a pseudonym and publishing the Sunday Times bestselling book Can’t Not Won’t.
She explains how giving children labels can imply choice and describes the judgment and shame parents face, while advocating for more education, connection, and meaningful, flexible, interest-based learning rather than a target-driven curriculum and SEND categorisation. Fricker shares her own neurodiversity exploration through her latest memoir Could Try Harder (out on Thursday 14 May 2027, and available at all good bookstores).
She references polyvagal theory and masking in school meetings, outlines PDA (also called pervasive drive for autonomy) strategies, and recommends Letters to My Weird Sisters by Joanne Limburg and How to Be Autistic by Charlotte Amelia Poe.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:19 From Textiles to Illustration
04:43 Can't Not Won't Explained
08:03 Self Discovery and Memoir
11:09 Could Try Harder Preview
12:51 Why School Needs Change
14:41 Rethinking SEND Support
17:06 Meaningful Learning
19:48 Power of Visual Narratives
22:21 Illustration Process and Space
24:08 Understanding PDA Strategies
27:33 Self Care for Parents
28:17 Books That Changed Eliza
31:34 Book Launch Plans and Closing
You can explore all of Eliza's other books on autism and PDA here.
Email us at bijal@booktherapy.io
Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.
If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.
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