Literature, mental health and gender politics. Why we must remember that "She Wrote Too" with Nicola Morgan

Welcome to the Business of Psychology podcast. I'm joined by Nicola Morgan, who some of you may know as the co-host of the fantastic She Wrote Too podcast and Substack. As well as a podcaster, Nicola is a positive psychologist, champion of women's writers, bibliotherapist, creativity specialist, tutor and mentor. She's properly multi hyphen, having been a former lawyer and teacher in past lives. She now uses that wealth of experience and passion to help others thrive through story and psychology. 

Full show notes and a transcript of this episode are available at The Business of Psychology

Links for Nicola:

She Wrote Too Podcast:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

She Wrote Too Substack

Links for Rosie:

Substack: substack.com/@drrosie

Rosie on Instagram:

@rosiegilderthorp

@thepregnancypsychologist

Reading list from Nicola, to support the topics discussed:

Positive Psychology & Purpose

• Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. - Introduces the PERMA model: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment.
• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). "Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being." American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. - Central to understanding motivation in values-led work.
• Wong, P. T. P. (2011). "Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life." Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 52(2), 69–81. - Explores how suffering and meaning-making are integral to authentic well-being.

Narrative Psychology & Meaning

• McAdams, D. P. (1993). The Stories We Live By: Personal Myths and the Making of the Self. - Key text on how humans construct identity and meaning through narrative.
• Neimeyer, R. A. (2006). "Rewriting the self: History, memory, narrative." In Meaning Reconstruction and the Experience of Loss. - Relevant to your interest in grief, healing, and story.

Bibliotherapy & Reading for Well-being

• Brewster, L. (2011). Health & Place, 17(2), 361–368. "The public library as therapeutic landscape: A qualitative case study." - Explores the healing power of books and libraries.
• Billington, J. (2016). Reading and Mental Health: Bibliotherapy Revisited. Palgrave Macmillan. -Central to bibliotherapy research and your work with She Wrote Too and Learn to Thrive.
• Montgomery, H., & Martin, B. (2015). "Literature and empathy: A study of bibliotherapy and reading groups." Medical Humanities, 41(2), 100–104.

How shared reading helps foster empathy and insight.

• Kidd, D.C. & Castano, E. (2013). Reading Literary...