My Favorite Books to Recommend to Clients
As a therapist, I’m constantly reading the latest books (and some modern classics) on mental health and recommending them to clients. I try not to recommend books I haven’t read myself, because although many authors may mean well, some self-help books seem reductive or preachy. I prefer books that are informative, insightful, and easy to understand. Here are my top 5 favorite books to recommend and why I like them.
Anchored by Deb Dana
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker
Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté, MD
Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Read more about each book below.
Anchored by Deb Dana
Who it’s for: I recommend this book for those with general or chronic anxiety. This is a great read for anyone who wants to learn more about the nervous system and the polyvagal theory.
Why I love it: This is an easy, short read with actionable steps and tools to “befriend your nervous system”. I really enjoyed Dana’s explanation of the polyvagal theory and her tips for co-regulation. One great insight I took away from this book is that human beings need to connect with nature on a regular basis to regulate our nervous systems. Living in a big city, I recognize an immediate shift when I enter the park. After reading this book, I made an effort to get to the park each day to mindfully and intentionally connect with nature. This is an excellent book for those with anxiety and anyone who feels they’re in chronic “fight or flight”.
2. Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker
Who it’s for: People who had an emotionally abusive or neglectful childhood. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to increase their knowledge and frameworks about chronic complex trauma and it’s impact on functioning.
Why I love it: Walker’s book provides insights as well as validation for those who were abused or neglected by their caregivers. Walker also provides a framework that I often use with clients and provides terms for common symptoms of complex trauma such as “inner critic” and “emotional flashbacks”. This is a book that changes lives for those who have experienced abuse. It is a tough read and may bring up difficult emotions, but it can also be very rewarding and insightful to learn more about complex and childhood trauma.
3. Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté, MD
Who it’s for: Anyone who has ADHD or simply wants to learn more about it.
Why I love it: Maté is a renowned psychiatrist who has written books about trauma, addiction and ADHD. Maté also has ADHD himself and theorizes ADHD as a response to trauma or growing up in a chaotic environment. He explores the origins of ADHD and ways to work with your brain instead of against it. His theories about the origins of ADHD are just that, theories, but he proposes a very interesting framework to view ADHD and the symptoms that develop as a response to an overwhelming environment.
4. Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller
Who it’s for: Attached is a modern classic on attachment theory, I recommend it to just about anybody but especially those who struggle with attachment issues and relationships. Anxious daters, avoidant partners, and couples struggling with a mismatch in attachment styles would all benefit from this book.
Why I love it: Attached explains the fundamentals of attachment theory in a digestible manner. It also provides insights into each attachment style and ways to become more secure. There is a lot of talk about attachment styles lately, and it’s important to remember that anyone can use tools and psychotherapy to become more secure over time. Attached provides insights and hope for those who are struggling with insecure attachment.
5. Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Who it’s for: I recommend this one for who struggle with “people pleasing” , those who grew up in an environment that taught you to “keep the peace” over speaking your boundaries or speaking up due to discomfort. This is also a great read for those who may have grown up in different cultures that prioritize closeness over boundaries.
Why I love it: Navigating boundaries is hard. It’s natural to want to avoid conflict, but it’s also a necessary tool for protecting ourselves and our relationships. Tawwab provides easy-to-understand insights as well as actionable tools to use to set boundaries with friends, work and family. I loved this book when I first read it in 2020 and have been recommending it to people ever since.
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That’s all for now.
I love reading, so stay tuned for another blog post soon about more books I recommend as a therapist. And feel free to recommend your favorite books to me as well.