I love reading about therapy and mental health stuff. Here are some recommended books exploring mental health challenges commonly faced by my clients:

Depression:

• Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope by Johann Hari

  This book explores the multifaceted nature of depression and offers a fresh perspective on its origins and treatment. Hari challenges the conventional belief that depression is solely a result of a chemical imbalance and argues that societal factors play a crucial role. He identifies various "lost connections" such as meaningful work, social support, and a connection to nature that are ever harder to find in our modern world. The book combines personal narratives and anecdotes with scientific research to propose a holistic approach to addressing depression. I found the book well-researched and deeply moving.

Trauma:

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

  Perhaps the seminal work of modern trauma treatment (most every therapist I know seems to have read it), this book synthesizes decades of trauma research and clinical practice into a book that is informative, inspiring, and accessible to laypeople and clinicians alike. The book explores how traumatic experiences shape and disrupt the brain, with lasting impacts on mental and physical health. The book examines various new and non-traditional therapeutic approaches to heal trauma, including neurofeedback, EMDR, and somatic therapies, advocates for a holistic understanding of trauma, and emphasizes the importance of integrating body-focused therapies into traditional mental health practices.

Substance Use / Alcoholism / Drug Addition:

• Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari

  An excellent book both for those struggling with substance use and those of us that care about them.  This book takes a sweeping look at America’s traditional approach to substance abuse, including our disastrous policies of criminalization, and examines why they are failing.  The book makes a powerful case for a more holistic, compassionate approach to substance use recovery, including addressing root causes of addiction at both the societal and individual level.  The harm reduction approaches described in the book will provide a compelling alternative to anyone uncomfortable with the abstinence-focused (and frequently 12-step-based) approach that for many Americans is the only path to substance use recovery they are familiar with.

• In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté

  Another great resource for those with substance use challenges and the people who love them. Much like Hari’s book above, this book draws on powerful anecdotes, but then adds in well-researched clinical context. Unlike Hari, Maté is a physician, and his examination of the biochemical mechanisms of addiction and recovery, and how those relate to biochemical disruptions due to trauma and other environmental factors, is both wonderfully thorough and easily accessible. He further relates substance use and recovery to a number of other common mental health diagnoses like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and OCD in a way that provides useful insights on all sorts of behaviors clients might want to change and/or emotions they might want to manage better. A sweeping, engaging, applicable read.

Parenting:

• The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

• No-Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

  "The Whole-Brain Child" offers practical insights into understanding and nurturing a child's developing brain, and in accessible language explores how brain science can inform effective parenting, providing strategies to promote emotional intelligence and resilience in children. It emphasizes the integration of both hemispheres of the brain to foster holistic development. "No-Drama Discipline," Siegel and Bryson continue their guidance by addressing discipline challenges. They advocate for a compassionate approach that focuses on teaching, understanding, and connection rather than punishing. Together, these books offer a comprehensive framework for mindful parenting, and are particularly useful for parents who have found that strict discipline and rigid boundaries have let to high conflict or frayed parent-child relationships.

• Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

  This book explores the alarming degree to which children are kept disconnected from the natural world around them and the natural impulses within themselves, and the devastating impact this has on their physical and mental well-being. Somehow, though, the book is still an inspiring joy to read. Louv advocates for the importance of outdoor experience in fostering creativity, cognitive development, and emotional resilience, and gives guidance on how to bring such experiences back into children’s lives. I found this book particularly striking in it’s demonstration of how safety-at-all-costs (“helicopter”) parenting leads to children who are unhappy, self-doubting, and unengaged with the world (including, often their parents). Louv doesn’t just advocate for letting kids go outside, he advocates for letting kids actually be kids in a way that is invigorating and powerfully argued.

Attachment, Relationship Patterns, and the Repercussions of our Childhoods:

• Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson

  An excellent place to start for anyone trying to draw some sort of through line from a troubled upbringing to difficulties in adulthood, especially if those difficulties involve one’s parents. Gibson skillfully analyzes how inadequate emotional support in childhood can lead to difficulties in adult relationships and self-esteem. Gibson offers practical strategies for building emotional resilience, setting boundaries, and fostering healthier connections. The book is a helpful guide for adult children seeking understanding, healing, and the tools to break destructive patterns inherited from their upbringing.

• Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller

  This book is a basic, accessible intro to the science of adult attachment, revealing how our attachment styles impact our relationships. The book identifies three main attachment styles—secure, anxious, and avoidant—and delves into how these patterns influence intimacy, communication, and emotional connection. Offering practical advice, Levine and Heller blend psychological research and real-world examples to help readers foster healthier, more fulfilling relationships. The book does not really explore disorganized or fearful-avoidant attachment, which is a major omission, but it is nevertheless a useful book.

• Attachment Disturbances in Adults: Treatment for Comprehensive Repair by Daniel Brown and David Elliott

  This academically rich, groundbreaking, mountain of a book delves into therapeutic approaches for addressing attachment disruptions in adulthood. Spanning diverse theoretical frameworks, the book integrates relational and neurobiological perspectives to outline effective treatment methods and show how early experiences impact adult relationships. The book offers evidence-based interventions for repairing ruptures in attachment, fostering secure connections, and promoting emotional healing. Aimed at clinicians, but potentially of interest to anyone who wants a deep dive into the impact of attachment disruptions over the lifespan. I draw from this book a lot in my practice.

• The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller

  Delves into the hidden emotional struggles of seemingly high-achieving individuals. Through poignant case studies and psychological insights, she dissects the impact of parental expectations, emotional neglect, and the burden of perfectionism on adult lives. As the title indicates, Miller’s focus is on the early childhood experiences of gifted children, but her insights are generalizable to the experience of many in childhood, “gifted” or otherwise. In particular, she delineates how those with troubled childhoods often pursue external validation in a way they never find satisfying. Miller advocates for acknowledging and processing repressed emotions as a means of healing, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and authenticity in breaking free from patterns of self-denial, and fostering genuine emotional well-being. A great especially for anyone who has used achievement to cope with emotional pain.

Boundaries and Authenticity:

• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

  Recommended to me many years ago by a mentor in the substance use recovery world for whom I have great respect, this book presents four powerful principles for personal freedom and happiness. These agreements—be impeccable with your word, take nothing personally, make no assumptions, and always do your best—serve as tools to navigate relationships, communication, and self-awareness. By embracing these principles, individuals can create a life guided by authenticity and inner peace, fostering a profound shift towards personal empowerment and emotional liberation.  Probably the least academic and most self-help-ish book I have ever loved from a clinical perspective.  A short, easy, pleasant, worthwhile read.

Couples Work:

• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver

  Provides a roadmap for nurturing and sustaining a successful marital relationship. Based on extensive research, Gottman outlines key principles essential for a thriving marriage. These include: fostering emotional connection, mastering conflict resolution, and building trust and intimacy. The book introduces practical exercises and techniques for couples to strengthen their bond, emphasizing the importance of communication, understanding each other's needs, and fostering a culture of appreciation and respect. By applying these principles, couples can navigate challenges, deepen their connection, and create a fulfilling and enduring partnership.

Sociopathy and Narcissism:

• The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout

  Sheds light on the prevalence of sociopathy in society, estimating that around 1 in 25 individuals lacks a conscience and empathy. Stout delves into the characteristics and behaviors of sociopaths, highlighting how they blend into everyday life while manipulating and harming those around them. The book serves as a guide to understanding this personality disorder and navigating relationships while staying vigilant against potential harm. A number of people I have recommended this to have found it useful for keeping a harmful person at arm’s length and minimizing related disruptions in their lives. I also find this book useful as a sensible, research-grounded counterbalance to the current popular discourse on “narcissism,” a word/concept which has seen a huge (and frequently inaccurate) increase in use, especially on social media, in recent years.

Apologies and Making Amends:

• Why Won’t you Apologize? by Dr. Harriet Lerner

  Delves into the complexities of apologies, forgiveness, and repairing relationships. Dr. Lerner explores the various reasons why people struggle with offering or accepting apologies, as well as the impact this has on interpersonal connections. She provides insights and guidance into the art of a genuine, effective apology and the healing power it holds in relationships. A wonderfully useful book for anyone genuinely committed to making amends with someone else, and willing to do the necessary emotional work. Also useful to those who still bear the pain of others’ wrongdoing, and seek a way to either move past that pain, make better sense of it, or both.

• Making Amends: Atonement in Morality, Law, and Politics by Linda Radzik

  Much more academic than Lerner’s book, this is a fascinating philosophical exploration of the concept of making amends or atonement in various aspects of life—morality, law, and politics. Radzik investigates the nature and significance of making amends when someone has wronged another individual or a community. The book delves into the ethical and moral dimensions of apology and reparation, examining how these actions contribute to restoring justice and repairing relationships in both personal and societal contexts. Radzik's work provides a deep analysis of the complexities and implications of making amends, shedding light on its role in addressing wrongdoing and fostering reconciliation.

OCD:

• Brain Lock by Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz

  This book presents a very helpful, CBT-based approach to OCD that one can implement without the assistance of a psychotherapist. The book also provides an excellent summary of how OCD appears driven by changes in brain physiology that prevent those with the condition from fully experiencing completeness and safety around ritualized behaviors. My only complaint is that the book contains many more anecdotes about OCD recovery than it needs to, and readers should feel free to skip or skim those stories. (The book probably only needed to be 40 or 50 pages long.) But the approach, reasoning, and research are spot on, and worth understanding for those dealing with OCD.