What Our Therapists Are Reading
Clients often ask about book recommendations as a way to support their work outside of session. We’ve asked our therapists to provide their most commonly recommended titles for you to check out!
You’ll find the books our team have found particularly useful for their clients.
Are you a reader? Podcast lover? Etc.? Bookmark this page to check out updates to our recommendations!
Find a Book You Want To Read? Buy it Local!
We’ve collaborated with our neighbors, Johnson’s Literary Depot, in Downtown Johnson City (a few steps from our office) to have our therapist’s recommendations available to purchase locally!
After your session, stop by Johnson’s Literary Depot, grab one of the recommended titles, and browse the other selections they have available. Shop local!
Book: Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleinman
Why I recommend this: This book gets recommended to so many clients and is a favorite of mine. It normalizes the challenges of the postpartum period, but gives practical skills and advice for navigating such an intense time. Bonus! It’s easy to break down in small, bite sized sections. Perfect for those who are sleep deprived and don’t have time for long books!
Book: ACT With Love by Russ Harris, M.D.
Why I recommend this: ACT with Love offers valuable insights and practical exercises designed to enhance personal growth and relationship quality, whether individuals are seeking a partner or currently engaged in one. It clearly articulates foundational communication skills, illustrates how to align with shared value systems, and provides techniques to foster full presence. Additionally, the book highlights destructive patterns that can harm relationships and offers strategies to address them. I regularly utilize this text in my work with couples..
Book: No Bad Thoughts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness
Why I recommend this: I would highly recommend this book because it invites a compassionate internal framing of oneself and the parts that make us up. Instead of trying to suppress or eliminate painful emotions, “No Bad Parts” teaches that all parts—even the ones we view as negative—have protective intentions and deserve compassion. This framing fosters deep healing, self-acceptance, and inner harmony.
Book: Courting The Wild Twin by Martin Shaw
Why I recommend this: Courting the Wild Twin by Martin Shaw is a poetic and evocative exploration of ancient myth, calling readers to reconnect with the untamed, forgotten parts of themselves. Shaw’s lyrical storytelling blends folklore, spirituality, and deep ecology into a haunting invitation to embrace the wildness within.
Book: Health At Every Size by Linda Bacon
Why I recommend this: In this book, Bacon uses science to dismantle diet culture and its insidious myths. I think this book is foundational for anyone seeking to end the miserable cycle of restrictive/reactive eating and reclaim a more peaceful relationship with food, body, and self.
Book: The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris, M.D.
Why I recommend this: The Happiness Trap should be required reading. If I could have everyone read just one book about understanding thoughts and emotions this would certainly be the one. Dr. Harris explains the ways we get stuck in negative thought cycles, think paradoxically about what it means to be happy, and what to do about it. I’m routinely using similar strategies (both personally and professionally) from this book everyday.
Book: Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristen Neff
Why I recommend this: This book will empower you to face challenges and relationships with both courage and kindness. You’ll learn how to replace self-criticism with inner strength and acceptance.
Book: How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
Why I recommend this: A helpful, easy-to-read book that gently helps us to unpack past trauma around cleaning and build self-compassion to manage those pesky chores without feeling so overwhelmed.
Book: Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan, PhD
Why I recommend this: You and I are being influenced every waking moment of the day. The news, social media, billboards and ads, but also friendly conversation and lively debate all hold sway on the thoughts we think, the feelings we feel, and the decisions we make. But what happens when influence goes beyond the agreeable and acceptable bounds of normal human interaction? When does it become coercive? When does it become dangerous? Cult documentaries have long explored the concept of influence, but this book goes beyond just pointing out potentially problematic behaviors of a single group or institution. This book equips the reader to evaluate the power dynamics at play in any religious/spiritual group, political party (wink, wink), corporation, or relationship utilizing the BITE model of authoritarian control. You may be surprised just how “culty” a lot of seemingly ordinary things are. Take a deep dive into the idea of influence and explore the question: what is mind control? It’s not swirly spirals and flashing lights and it’s not science fiction. It’s real, it’s common, and it IS having an impact on us all.
Want more resources to support your mental health or personal growth? Stay tuned for more of our favorites!