Below is a selected and ongoing list of books that helped shape me as a clinician. Included are titles that clients have recommended and/or found helpful over the years.

Anxiety, Overactive Brains, and Quieting Negative Thoughts

Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross.

The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power by Katherine Morgan Schafler.

101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think edited by Brianna Wiest.

Leave Your Mind Behind: the Everyday Practice of Finding Stillness Amid Rushing Thoughts by Matthew McKay and Catharine Sutker.

The Miracle of Mindfulness: an Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Letting Go: the Pathway of Surrender by David R. Hawkins.

Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: a CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts by Sally M. Winston and Martin N. Seif.

The Wisdom of Anxiety: How Worry & Intrusive Thoughts are Gifts to Help you Healh by Sheryl Paul.

Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind by Judson Brewer.

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer.

One Small Step Can Change Your life: the Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer.

Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky.

Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life by Steven Hayes.

Relationships

Secure Love: Create a Relationship that Lasts a Lifetime by Julie Menanno.

Attached: Are You Anxious, Avoidant or Secure? How the Science of Adult Attachment Can Help You Find - and Keep - Love by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller.

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert by John Gottman and Nan Silver.

Codependent No More by Melody Beattie.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: a Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab.

Anger

Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Letting Go of Anger: The Eleven Most Common Anger Styles & What to Do About Them by Ronald T. Potter-Efron and Patricia S. Potter-Efron.

Healing the Angry Brain: How Understanding the Way Your Brain Works Can Help You Control Anger & Aggression by Ronald Potter-Efron.

Shame

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown.

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t): Making the Journey From “What Will People Think?” to “I Am Enough” by Brene Brown.

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristen Neff.

Other

The Gift of Therapy by Irvin D. Yalom.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson.

Why Can’t I Drink Like Everyone Else? A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding Why You Drink and Knowing How to Take a Break by Rachel Hart.