This study sought to revise the collection development policy for a bibliotherapy library used by the residents at a women's AOD treatment centre in Tampa, Florida (USA). The research was conducted by Peter Cannon as part of his PhD on rhetoric and reading therapies. The article summarises the key findings from a reading preference survey of the residents and a semi‐structured group interview of the mental health professionals at the centre. The results are used to support the development of a new bibliotherapy model that Peter has termed neurorhetoric narratology. Preliminary findings suggest this new model can offer the residents a new bibliotherapy track that employs less emotionally triggering texts that will be useful for treatment.