My Journey: From Survival to Healing Through Bibliotherapy

In September 2018, I restarted mental health therapy, and I can tell you—it was a journey seven consecutive years without a gap in treatment, sometimes even twice a week. Through CBT, DBT, and psychoanalytic Therapy, I addressed my diagnoses of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. For years, I had lived a double life: functional on the surface, but operating entirely on autopilot.

The breaking point came after I learned my salary had been reduced by $25,000—an announcement my dean made publicly in a staff meeting. I had thought I was on an upward trajectory as a Black librarian. Despite being told repeatedly that transitioning from public to academic librarianship was impossible, I had done precisely that—and secured a leadership position. But the College of New Rochelle faced financial troubles, and as the saying goes, last hired, first fired. Part of my salary came from grant funds, the rest from the college budget, making me vulnerable when cuts came.

That salary reduction became a massive trigger. I began to spiral. Autopilot failed. I was losing control.

On the advice of a good friend,  I decided to restart treatment. My first therapist asked how I’d achieved my educational accomplishments while living with these diagnoses. I was a bit taken aback by her comments and sought another therapist, not before providing her with a simple answer: journaling and faith. I had three beautiful children who needed me to be present, so I kept surviving.

I’d first entered Therapy in 2003, attending a trauma writing group. It was transformative, but offered only during lunch hours. When I began working full-time, I had to stop. That’s when I shifted to autopilot, relying on the reading and journaling skills I’d learned through the women’s project—combined with Lexapro prescribed by my primary care physician.

During my research on Black librarians, I discovered Sadie Peterson Delaney, the first Black librarian and a bibliotherapist. I realized I’d been consuming self-help books as a coping mechanism long before formally re-entering treatment. These books, I now understand, were not just a source of information but a powerful tool for my mental health.

Halfway through my seven-year therapeutic journey, I received an autographed copy of Therapy Isn’t Just for White People, a memoir by Kiara Imani. This book became my “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors”—and inspired me to launch Curated Collections by SME, a company focused on bibliotherapy.

You may be wondering why you haven’t heard about this company until now. The truth is, I couldn’t focus on building a business while simultaneously focusing on healing.

On September 4, 2025, I was officially discharged from Therapy. It was a moment of immense relief, a sign that I had made significant progress in my healing journey. Around the same time, I hired a virtual assistant. Yesterday, I launched my newsletter on Substack and created my company’s LinkedIn page.

Substack Article

Last April, my chapter—”Resurgence of a Bibliotherapist: Exploring the Life and Times of Sadie ‘Sara’ Marie Peterson Delaney”—was published in The Legacy of Black Women in Librarianship: When They Dared to Be Powerful, edited by Dr. Nicole A. Cooke.

The Legacy of Black Women in Librarianship

Today, I’m ready to share my work, my story, and the healing power of bibliotherapy with the world. Please join me on my new journey!!

Signed: Living My Life with No Regrets!!