A Bibliotherapeutic Narrative Agency Reading Group with Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Breast cancer, a major global health concern, imposes a significant emotional and existential burden on patients, highlighting the need for innovative psychosocial support. This article examines the bibliotherapeutic application of the Narrative Agency Reading Group (NARG) model, an evidence-based reading group method developed through research and tested with various groups. The NARG model emphasizes cultural narratives and dialogical reflection on both dominant and counter-narratives of cancer, making it a distinctive bibliotherapeutic approach. In autumn 2024, we facilitated a narrative agency reading group for breast cancer patients, exploring the potential of cancer-specific literary narratives to enhance the narrative agency of participants. Results indicate that engaging with literary cancer narratives enabled participants to critically reflect on prevailing cultural narratives, articulate their personal experiences, and explore alternative narratives. The safe, dialogical space of the meetings facilitated emotional processing, helping participants integrate their illness into their life stories. While earlier bibliotherapeutic breast cancer groups have focused on poetry and texts that do not explicitly address cancer, the NARG model suggests that cancer-specific literary narratives and creative writing can also serve as effective tools for emotional support and self-exploration in cancer care. By fostering a shared narrative space, the NARG model provides a novel bibliotherapeutic approach that not only alleviates emotional distress but also empowers patients to navigate and reshape cultural narratives of illness. We suggest that dialogical counter-narrating represents bibliotherapeutic poetic work par excellence.