books
anybody who knows me, knows I am a voracious reader, so I predominantly have book resources. I am a firm believer that knowledge is power and I don't believe in safeguarding resources and guidance. divided into sections below are some of my favorite resources to explore for further self-development and healing.
**disclaimer**: I recognize that some of these books may be triggering (especially books on trauma)- if any start triggering you, please put them down and speak with your therapist. I also encourage you to read with your own discernment and trust yourself to navigate if a book listed below does not fit for you. these resources are also not intended to serve as or replace therapy or medical advice. if you are already working with professionals, consult with them about resources to ensure it's a good fit for you.
self care
in a world that's constantly fixated on pouring out to others, it's important to remember we pour out from what we have within. these books range from mental health, self-help and self-care. here are a few of my personal favorites that I have read over the years.
"You are the One You've Been Waiting For" by Richard Schwartz, PhD
"Boundaries for Your Soul by Alison Cook", PhD and Kimberly Miller, MTh, LMFT
"The Power of Fun" by Catherine Price
"More Than A Body" by Lindsey Kite, PhD and Lexi Kite, PhD
"Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple" by Seth J Gillihan, PhD
"Keys to Unlocking Depression" by Michael D. Yapko, PhD
"Healing Through Words" by Rupi Kaur this is a guided journal/reflection space for healing
trauma
these books are curated to help you understand how trauma impacts mind, body and spirit. naturally, reading about trauma can be triggering so if you happen to pick them up and they start triggering, please put them down.
"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van Der Kolk
"Transforming Trauma: The Path to Hope and Healing" by James Gordon, MD
"What Happened to You?" by Bruce Perry, MD, PhD and Oprah Winfrey
mind-body connection
research is continuing to show that the mind/body connection is tethered so intricately. I once attended a training by Deb Dana who shed light on the fact that we have more pathways from the body to the brain (called afferent neurons) than we do pathways from the brain to the body (called efferent neurons). this solidified to me that until we integrate whole body and nervous system healing into our mental and physical wellbeing, then we are only getting to a certain depth of healing. while books in other sections touch on this topic peripherally, here are some specifically diving into nervous system integration and healing.
"Safe and Sound" by Stephen Porges, PhD and Karen Onderko
"Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve" by Stanley Rosenberg
relationships
relationships are integral to our lives and most often the building blocks of our foundation. I once had a professor that would say, "we learn how to be human in the family's we grow up in" and the more I work with people, the more I realize how profoundly true that is. while understanding our past and the way we learned how to be in relationships as children, we can also consciously choose different patterns of relating as adults so we can cultivate the connections and relationships we desire.
"The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" by John M. Gottman, PhD
"Keys to the Kingdom" by Alison A. Armstrong
"The Queens Code" by Alison A. Armstrong
"Attached" by Amir Levine, M.D., and Rachel S.F. Heller, M.A.
aspiring therapists
for the aspiring therapist/counselor, these are some of my favorite books and resources I've read over the years post grad school. there are books ranging from different models and theories of change; however, it's important to understand your theory of change so that informs your questions, interventions and treatment plans in the therapy room. as someone who loves integrating nervous system work, I believe that polyvagal theory and nervous system integration can underlay any theory of change because it integrates the bottom-up approach to a traditionally top-down field.
"Polyvagal Theory in Therapy" by Deb Dana
"Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy" by Susan McConnell
"On Being a Therapist" by Jeffrey A. Kottler
"Stuck in the Sick Role" by Melissa Stennet Deuter, MD
"Solution Focused Narrative Therapy" by Linda Metcalf, MEd, PhD, LMFT, LPC
"On Becoming a Person" by Carl Rogers and Peter D. Kramer, PhD
"Somatic Psychotherapy Toolbox" by Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, LMFT
