As I mentioned in this previous post, I love to read. It helps me relax while also improving my brain.
But, full disclosure: I often read treatment books that I can also use in my therapy practice and/or recommend to clients depending on the individual and their issues.
Here are some Books I Recommend for Fellow Therapists and Counselors. Enjoy!
Snow People World by Lisa Terrell
I have taught her material in my work for years, and it’s one of the things people have said that was helpful.
Snow People World: Healthy and Happy Relationships by Lisa Terrell blends concepts such as Bowen’s differentiation theory, Family Systems, Developmental Theory, Transactional Analysis, Solution-Focused Therapies, and Narrative Therapies. This unique book offers readers a ‘boot camp’ for life and happiness. By revealing techniques that help people build their relationships, Terrell teaches us how to find the Snow Person within.
Into The Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart. James Doty, MD
His story is so cool!
Growing up in the high desert of California, Jim Doty was poor, with an alcoholic father and a mother chronically depressed and paralyzed by a stroke. Today he is the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University, of which the Dalai Lama is a founding benefactor. But back then, his life was at a dead end until, at twelve, he wandered into a magic shop looking for a plastic thumb. Instead, he met Ruth, a woman who taught him a series of exercises to ease his own suffering and manifest his greatest desires. Her final mandate was that he keep his heart open and teach these techniques to others. She gave him his first glimpse of the unique relationship between the brain and the heart.
My Grandmother’s Hands Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
My Grandmother’s Hands is a call to action for all of us to recognize that racism is not only about the head but about the body, and introduces an alternative view of what we can do to grow beyond our entrenched racialized divide.
It paves the way for a new body-centered understanding of white supremacy – how it is literally in our blood and our nervous system.
It offers a step-by-step healing process based on the latest neuroscience and somatic healing methods, as well as incisive social commentary.
Ready to Heal: Helping Women Heal from Addictive Relationships by Kelly McDaniel
Since there are not many books like this for men, it has been helpful for men who have read.
When love hurts, you may wonder about your choice of romantic partners or risky sexual behaviors. Perhaps, like many others, you’re experiencing the raw pain of an addictive relationship―the kind that’s painful to be in yet seemingly impossible to leave. A profound sense of emptiness can result.
The phrase “love and sex addiction” will be referenced throughout the book as a way to name addictive patterns. While this term may not be one you would choose, that’s okay. It’s simply a name. Naming a problem is the first step toward healing. For a woman, healing from love and sex addiction requires an understanding of the disease from (1) an early rupture in attachment with your caregivers and (2) patriarchal norms and expectations in culture. Both will be explored here.
Set Boundaries Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
This book also has a great workbook! Nedra is The Boundary Expert, in my opinion.
Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them – to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family. But what do “healthy boundaries” really mean – and how can we successfully express our needs, say “no,” and be assertive without offending others?
Licensed counselor, sought-after relationship expert, and one of the most influential therapists on Instagram Nedra Glover Tawwab demystifies this complex topic for today’s world. In a relatable and inclusive tone, Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple yet powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life. Rooted in the latest research and best practices used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), these techniques help us identify and express our needs clearly and without apology – and unravel a root problem behind codependency, power struggles, anxiety, depression, burnout, and more.
A Light in the Dark- The Hidden Legacy of Adult Children of Sex Addicts- Kenneth Adams, PhD., Mary E. Meyer, PhD, LMFT, And Culle L. Vande Garde, LCSW
There are not a lot of books to read on this subject, so this one is beneficial.
Adult children who grew up with a parent who had a sexual addiction are left confused, ashamed, and mistrustful regarding the feelings and boundaries surrounding sex, love, and intimacy. Due to the inappropriate sexual behavior of one parent and the subsequent impact of betrayal on the other parent, these adults carry sexual secrets, have divided loyalties, and are often caught in the middle of their parent’s struggles.
Help Her Heal: An Empathy Workbook for Sex Addicts to Help Their Partners Heal (audiobook) by Carol Juergensen Sheets
Carol Juergenen Sheets and Allan J. Katz have created a workbook/roadmap for rebuilding relationships damaged by sexual addiction and other forms of infidelity. With a focus on empathy – understanding what the betrayed partner is feeling; the exercises in this guidebook will help sex addicts rebuild lost trust and intimacy. This is a recipe for healing a broken relationship.
One More Thing
In only a few months, I will celebrate the third anniversary of releasing my book, Loved Just As I Am. Some days, it feels like this milestone of publishing my first book was 100 years ago, and sometimes it still feels like yesterday.
What hasn’t changed in three years is the incredible pride I feel for writing and publishing a book. Writing a book, especially about past traumas and events, is not for the faint of heart!
Within the pages of my book, I share my personal story of resilience and growth. From childhood wounds to struggles with relationships and addiction, this memoir offers a robust roadmap to healing and embracing your true worth.
This book has had many victories (it landed the coveted #1 in New Releases spot on Amazon!), as well as many struggles and hurtful moments.
And I wouldn’t change a thing.
The trials, tribulations, and triumphs are all worth it if they can bring comfort and clarity to even just one person.
Own your story. You never know who it may help or what you could learn. 
Loved Just As I Am by Melissa McDaniel, M.Ed., LCMHC, NCC, shares a thirty-year journey of learning and healing from pain and shame, letting go of judgment and control, and never losing sight of the knowledge God loves unconditionally. McDaniel now uses her complete understanding of compassion and abuse to help others cope and heal.
This book is available on Amazon, Kindle, and my business website.
