Books offer us an objective as well as intimate understanding and language for our selves and the experiences that shape or effect us. I have found that the books listed below helpful to my own understanding as well as the individuals and couples I work, and have worked, with.
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Psychotherapy
Understanding Psychotherapy: The Science Behind the Art
by Michael Basch
A book that explains the concepts within “depth psychotherapy”. A good book for understanding how psychotherapy works.
Human Change Processes: The Scientific Foundations of Psychotherapy
by Michael Mahoney, PhD.
A wonderful book blending philosophy, evolutionary biology and developmental and cognitive psychology.
Between Therapist and Client
by Michael Kahn
Explores the most important aspect of psychotherapy, the relationship between the client and therapist, traces the history of the clinical relationship from Freud to present.
The Family Crucible: The Intense Experience of Family Therapy
by Augustus Y. Napier, Ph.D., with Carl Witaker, M.D.
Possibly the penultimate book on Family dynamics in the context of family therapy.
The Heart and Soul of Change
by Mark Hubble, Barry Duncan and Scott Miller
This book breaks psychotherapy down to its basic components, and discusses these through research, studies and clinical experience. It distills and reexamines many of therapy’s myths and common beliefs. An excellent read for the beginning psychotherapist and those who are interested in the process and workings of psychotherapy
Humanistic Psychotherapy
by Albert Ellis
This book offers a nice blending of Ellis’ Rational Emotive Therapy and the Humanistic Approach. It is clearly written and in a manner that offers the reader both understanding and tools.
Thoughts without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective
by Mark Epstein
A wonderful book that integrates the rich meditative tradition of Eastern philosophy and the psychotherapeutic process of western psychology.
Depression
Undoing Depression
by Richard O’Connor, Ph.D
This is an excellent overview of depression, explaining many of its symptoms, causes and a guide for treatment, including approaches on psychotherapy, and medications.
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
by Andrew Solomon
This is an elegantly written book that examines depression from a personal perspective, integrating cultural and political insights and scientific terms.
Relationships
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
by John Gottman
This book is a practical guide from one of the country’s foremost relationship experts. It is well written with a good amount of research and clinical experience. The foundation of the book is to strengthen the friendship that is at the heart of the relationship.
How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It
by Patricia Love EdD., and Steven Stosny, PhD.
This book is much better than the title suggests. It focuses on understanding how connectedness fosters better relationships. It also explores the concepts of fear and shame in women and men.
Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic
by Esther Perel.
This book captures and explores many of the common dissatisfactions with romantic married life, especially the waning of passion and sexual interest.
I don’t want to talk about it: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression
by Terrence Real.
This book presents and explore much of the difficulties men have expressing themselves and engaging in intimate relationships. The author draws from his many years in clinical practice working with men and couples.
Affairs: A Guide to Working Through the Repercussions of Infidelity
by Emily M. Brown
This book is a sensitive guide filled with information that individuals and couples can use to work through the process in a healthy way and making intimacy a real possibility for the future.
Trauma
Trauma and Recovery
by Judith Herman, M.D.
A very compassionate, well written, and informational book on sexual abuse.
Sexuality
Arousal, The Secret Logic of Sexual Fantasies
by Michael J. Bader
This book presents some of the psychoanalytic thinking about sexual fantasies for both professionals and anyone curious about the roots of sexuality.
Don’t Call it Love
by Patrick Carnes
Carnes is considered on of the foremost experts on sexual addictions. This book lays out the causes and effects of sex addiction and how it is to be treated.
Personal Growth
Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes
by William Bridges.
An essential guide book for anyone going through a change or major life transition. The author breaks these changes up into stages and provides suggestions as to what to expect during these stages and how to make the best of them in view of the overall transition.
Related Fiction
Counseling for Toads, A Psychological Adventure
by Robert de Board
A play on the classic The Wind in the Willows, it actually explains counseling as a method of dealing with psychological distress with admirable clarity.
Love’s Executioner: & Other tales of psychotherapy
by Irvin D. Yalom
This is a well written collection of stories inspired by the complex relationship between therapist and client.
Work Books
The Anxiety and Phobia Work Book
by Edmund J. Bourne, PhD.
This work book is a practical and comprehensive guide that offers help to anyone struggling with panic attacks, agoraphobia, social fears, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, or other anxiety disorders.
Thoughts & Feelings: Taking Control of Your Mood & Your Life
by Matthew McKay, PhD., Martha Davis, PhD., and Patrick Fanning
This workbook adapts techniques of cognitive behavior therapy into a set of tools you can use.
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder: Using DBT to Regain Control of Your Emotions and Your Life
by Sheri Van Dijik
A workbook for individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder that can be helpful in developing coping skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulations and interpersonal effectiveness
Parenting After Divorce, A Guide To Resolving Conflicts and Meeting Your Child’s Needs
by Philip M. Stahl, Ph.D
A concise manual on parenting through divorce. The author offers helpful, practical, suggestions around communicating with the co-parent, how to help your children cope with the circumstances and changes that take place in divorce, as well as how to meet the challenges of being a single parent.
