RECOMMENDED READING
Self-help books can provide an incredibly useful adjunct to your work in therapy. Here are some favorites that I frequently recommend:
Harm Reduction and Recovery
Over the Influence: The Harm Reduction Guide for Managing Drugs and Alcohol
One of the best in the business--a compassionate, realistic, and brave approach towards alcohol and drug use. Infinitely valuable self-help, and useful support to families and treatment providers.
Get Up: A 12-Step Guide to Recovery for Misfits, Freaks, and Weirdos
Local poet and performer Bucky Sinister shares how his atheism initially kept him from traditional recovery support, and offers an alternative way in for folks who usually find themselves on the fringes. Hilarious, heartfelt, and filled with raw honesty.
Exploring Gender
Trans Bodies, Trans Selves
A wonderfully comprehensive guide for transgender/gender non-conforming/gender-questioning people, covering health, legal issues, cultural and social questions, history, theory, with each chapter written by transgender or genderqueer authors. An invaluable resource for its various communities, as well as for all allies, clinicians, and helpers.
My New Gender Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving World Peace Through Gender Anarchy and Sex Positivity
An updated edition of Kate Bornstein's groundbreaking 1997 work challenges us to re-examine gender in light of issues like race, class, sexuality, and language.
Body Image
Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight
One of the major proponents of the HAES Movement deconstructs the social, cultural, and medical myths surrounding weight, and supports people in adopting habits for the sake of health and well-being (rather than weight control). Contains a large amount of research information; best for skeptics and science nerds.
Body Respect: What Conventional Health Books Leave Out, Get Wrong, or Just Plain Fail to Understand about Weight
A shorter, more accessible version of the information from the HAES book. The authors debunk the Obesity Myths, explore why diets don’t work, and discuss alternative paths to better health for people of all shapes.
Communication Skills
Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life
A set of techniques for getting our needs met while transforming our relationships with others. (You may also watch the author deliver his delightful brand of wisdom in this 3-hour workshop on YouTube.)
Open Relationships
Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships
A comprehensive guide to navigating nonmonogamy, including tips on negotiating agreements, communication, managing jealousy, finding community, time management, and legal/financial protections.
Depression
Kicking Depression's Ugly Butt: Tried and True Methods for Outsmarting Depression
A practical set of coping techniques for defeating depression, rich with reader-friendly information, good-humored illustrations, and laminated coping cards for wallet use.
Developing Resilient States of Mind
Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion
Short, stand-alone gems that use everyday life as a vehicle to gently build awareness around what we fear most. Pema Chodron radiates a kind, clear-eyed wisdom, allowing her readers to approach vulnerability with greater ease.
Procrastination
Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change
A brief (by design) presentation of this psychologist's research on procrastination, along with practical advice on how to break our most entrenched task completion habits. See my longer review here.
OCD
Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior
Teaches cognitive-behavioral techniques to combat OCD, and provides information about the brain mechanisms behind the symptoms.
Compassion Fatigue
Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others
Meaningful self-care for therapists, EMTs, environmentalists, legal professionals, social workers, medical professionals, correctional officers, teachers, activists, and anyone else in direct service.
Sexuality
The Erotic Mind: Unlocking the Inner Sources of Passion and Fulfillment
Sex therapist Jack Morin surveys hundreds of people, and uses these responses to understand and explain our "erotic equation," helping us to see and accept the paradoxes involved in our most private desires.
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
See Esther Perel's illuminating TED talk to get a taste of her take on desire in long-term relationships.
Over the Influence: The Harm Reduction Guide for Managing Drugs and Alcohol
One of the best in the business--a compassionate, realistic, and brave approach towards alcohol and drug use. Infinitely valuable self-help, and useful support to families and treatment providers.
Get Up: A 12-Step Guide to Recovery for Misfits, Freaks, and Weirdos
Local poet and performer Bucky Sinister shares how his atheism initially kept him from traditional recovery support, and offers an alternative way in for folks who usually find themselves on the fringes. Hilarious, heartfelt, and filled with raw honesty.
Exploring Gender
Trans Bodies, Trans Selves
A wonderfully comprehensive guide for transgender/gender non-conforming/gender-questioning people, covering health, legal issues, cultural and social questions, history, theory, with each chapter written by transgender or genderqueer authors. An invaluable resource for its various communities, as well as for all allies, clinicians, and helpers.
My New Gender Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving World Peace Through Gender Anarchy and Sex Positivity
An updated edition of Kate Bornstein's groundbreaking 1997 work challenges us to re-examine gender in light of issues like race, class, sexuality, and language.
Body Image
Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight
One of the major proponents of the HAES Movement deconstructs the social, cultural, and medical myths surrounding weight, and supports people in adopting habits for the sake of health and well-being (rather than weight control). Contains a large amount of research information; best for skeptics and science nerds.
Body Respect: What Conventional Health Books Leave Out, Get Wrong, or Just Plain Fail to Understand about Weight
A shorter, more accessible version of the information from the HAES book. The authors debunk the Obesity Myths, explore why diets don’t work, and discuss alternative paths to better health for people of all shapes.
Communication Skills
Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life
A set of techniques for getting our needs met while transforming our relationships with others. (You may also watch the author deliver his delightful brand of wisdom in this 3-hour workshop on YouTube.)
Open Relationships
Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships
A comprehensive guide to navigating nonmonogamy, including tips on negotiating agreements, communication, managing jealousy, finding community, time management, and legal/financial protections.
Depression
Kicking Depression's Ugly Butt: Tried and True Methods for Outsmarting Depression
A practical set of coping techniques for defeating depression, rich with reader-friendly information, good-humored illustrations, and laminated coping cards for wallet use.
Developing Resilient States of Mind
Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion
Short, stand-alone gems that use everyday life as a vehicle to gently build awareness around what we fear most. Pema Chodron radiates a kind, clear-eyed wisdom, allowing her readers to approach vulnerability with greater ease.
Procrastination
Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change
A brief (by design) presentation of this psychologist's research on procrastination, along with practical advice on how to break our most entrenched task completion habits. See my longer review here.
OCD
Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior
Teaches cognitive-behavioral techniques to combat OCD, and provides information about the brain mechanisms behind the symptoms.
Compassion Fatigue
Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others
Meaningful self-care for therapists, EMTs, environmentalists, legal professionals, social workers, medical professionals, correctional officers, teachers, activists, and anyone else in direct service.
Sexuality
The Erotic Mind: Unlocking the Inner Sources of Passion and Fulfillment
Sex therapist Jack Morin surveys hundreds of people, and uses these responses to understand and explain our "erotic equation," helping us to see and accept the paradoxes involved in our most private desires.
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
See Esther Perel's illuminating TED talk to get a taste of her take on desire in long-term relationships.
Disclaimer: The information and resources contained on this website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to assess, diagnose, or treat any medical and/or mental health disease or condition. The use of this website does not imply nor establish any type of therapist-client relationship. Furthermore, the information obtained from this site should not be considered a substitute for a thorough medical and/or mental health evaluation by an appropriately credentialed and licensed professional. This website includes links to other websites for informational and reference purposes only. This website does not endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other websites. Examine the content carefully.
Photo used under Creative Commons from torbakhopper.