Drawing based bibliotherapy

Syllabus, Learning Objectives, Practicum and Research Report

Course Title Drawing-Based Bibliotherapy

Course Duration 2 Months

Commencement Date 5 November 2026 (Thursday)

Class Schedule Every Thursday and Saturday, 7:00 PM–9:00 PM

Total Course Hours 30 Hours (15 Classes × 2 Hours)

Course Overview

Drawing-Based Bibliotherapy offers an interdisciplinary learning opportunity at the intersection of literature, visual expression, and psychology. By combining reading, drawing, reflection, and research-based practice, the course aims to equip participants with foundational knowledge and practical skills for facilitating psychological well-being and conducting further research in this emerging area.

Course module 

Module 1: Foundations of Bibliotherapy

A. Introduction to Bibliotherapy

B. Scope and Applications of Bibliotherapy

C. Roles and Functions of a Bibliotherapy Facilitator

D. Types of Bibliotherapy: Reading-Based, Writing-Based, Poetry-Based, Drama-Based, Music-Integrated and Drawing-Based Bibliotherapy.

Practical activity: Select a short literary text and discuss how a character's feelings and experiences can be related to everyday life.

Home assignments:

Write a short note on the meaning, scope, and applications of bibliotherapy.

Select a literary character and explain how readers may identify with the character's emotional experiences.

Module 2: Theoretical Foundations of Drawing-Based Bibliotherapy

A. Art Therapy Theory and Its Relevance to Drawing-Based Bibliotherapy

B. Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory

C. Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory

D. The Layered Consciousness Model of Rabindrik Psychotherapy

E. Integration of Literature, Drawing, Reflection, and Emotional Expression.

Practical activity: Read a short story, identify the feelings of a character, and represent those feelings through a drawing followed by personal reflection.

Home assignments:

Explain the relevance of any one psychological theory to drawing-based bibliotherapy.

Prepare a drawing-based activity using the Murta, Raag, and Saraswat layers of the Layered Consciousness Model.

Module 3: Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Drawing

A. Psychoanalytic Interpretations of Drawing

B. Unconscious Processes and Symbolic Expression

C. Psychological Meaning and Interpretation of Drawings

D. Relationship Between Personal Experiences, Emotions, Imagination, and Visual Expression

E. Reflective Dialogue on Drawings: Exploring the Participant's Own Meaning.

Practical activity: Invite a participant to draw a response to a story and describe the meaning of the drawing in their own words. Discuss possible themes without imposing interpretations.

Home assignments:

Prepare a reflective analysis of a drawing produced in response to a literary text.

Write a dialogue guide for discussing a drawing with a participant in a non-judgmental manner.

Module 4: Research Methods and Ethical Considerations

A. Research Approaches to Drawing-Based Bibliotherapy: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed-Methods Designs

B. Selection and Use of Psychological Instruments Relevant to the Research Question

C. Pretest–Posttest Research Design and Intervention Procedures

D. Thematic Analysis of Drawings and Participants' Narratives

E. Ethical Considerations: Informed Consent, Confidentiality, Participant Autonomy, and Responsible Interpretation.

Practical activity: Develop a preliminary research protocol that includes an intervention procedure, a suitable psychological measure, and a plan for analyzing drawings and participant reflections.

Home assignments:

Prepare a research proposal using a pretest–posttest or qualitative research design.

Conduct a practice thematic analysis of a drawing and its accompanying narrative, with consent and without making unsupported diagnostic conclusions.

E. Practicum 

A. Pre-post Research on Drawing based bibliotherapy.