Sonya Tsakalakis

Sonya sang a hosanna after stumbling upon a newspaper article on bibliotherapy, the practice of reading for pleasure to nourish and heal. For it was something she had intuited since the age of 6, when Sonya turned to books as a shield from the cruelty of the school yard. Boundless research, coupled with a background in mental health, gave Sonya the impetus to launch The Literary Hand in 2013. Since then, Sonya has partnered with leading community agencies and individuals to foster self-knowledge and meaningful connection using stories and poems. A resident bibliotherapist for The School of Life in Melbourne for over 5 years, Sonya worked with clients from around Australia and overseas. She has been extensively interviewed by a variety of media outlets and has presented to diverse audiences. With her colleague, Germaine Leece, Sonya co-authored Reading the Seasons, a celebration of books holding life and friendship together.