Our Therapist’s Bookshelf
Maddie Persanyi, LCPC
No Bad Parts - Richard C. Schwartz, PhD
“This book was introduced to me through my own therapy and has transformed how I see myself, work with clients, and relate to others in the world. The foundational message of Internal Family Systems (IFS) that we do not have "bad" parts of ourselves serves as the beginning of healing. Those of us who struggle with an intense inner critic, bad habits, addiction, or any part of us that we conflict with, can experience an inner harmony and access self-compassion using the IFS paradigm. I highly recommend this book as a starting point for your healing journey!”
Alyson Charnas, LCSW/LISW
The Happiness Trap - Russ Harris
“This book explores the basic concepts of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and techniques. The book uses the concept of the "the trap" - the belief that happiness should and can be a constant feelings state which ultimately can lead to a a constant struggle against other unpleasant emotions. Focusing on the core concepts of acceptance, mindfulness, values driven action and psychologial flexibility; this book explains techniques that can help defuse from thoughts, accept emotions, be present, examine values and committed action aligned to those values. It shifts the the goal from just seeking happiness, to observing, acknowledging and allowing for pain and discomfort and still perservere. As noted in the book " Although we can't avoid pain, we can learn to handle it better - to make room for it, reduce its impact and create a life worth living despite it.”
Molly Adams, LCSW
The Body Keeps The Score - Bessel Van Der Kolk
“The author Bessel Van Der Kolk provides valuable insights into how trauma affects both the mind and body. He emphasizes the importance of the mind-body connection in trauma recovery and how unresolved trauma can manifest in physical ways. I connect with this book in the ways that the author empowers readers to understand their experiences better and take an active role in their healing journey. It validates the reader's feelings and struggles, fostering a sense of agency.”
Corinne Bloom, LSW
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone - Lori Gottlieb
“Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is a book I often recommend to clients who are curious about what therapy can look like or trying to make sense of their own inner world. Through her experience as both a therapist and a therapy client, Lori Gottlieb shows how universal human experiences really are surrounding grief, self-doubt, relationships, and the desire to feel understood . What I appreciate most is how normalizing the book feels. It gently challenges the idea that needing help means something is wrong with you, and instead frames therapy as a place to better understand yourself and the patterns that shape your life. For many people, this book feels like a reassuring first step toward self-reflection and healing.”
Sydney Gideon, LCSW
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love - Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller
“Attached explores how the attachment styles we develop in childhood translate into modern adult dating and romantic relationships. The three primary attachment styles, secure, anxious and avoidant, can help us understand how we we experience closeness, dependency and emotional safety with others. This book provides an accessible introduction to why some relationships may feel calming while others may feel destabilizing. By taking the quizzes provided in the book, we can gain insight into our own attachment style, how it developed, and ways it’s presenting itself in our current or past relationships. Through this understanding we can begin to heal or strengthen our attachments in order to increase safety and emotional freedom within romantic relationships.”
Laura Lahay, LCPC
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents - Lindsay C Gibson
“I first encountered this book in graduate school and have since consistently recommended it to clients who have experienced childhood trauma or neglect. The author describes four types of emotionally immature parents and attempts to help those who grew up with an emotionally immature, unavailable, or selfish parent learn how to identify unhealed emotions, wounds, or needs. She provides practical concepts and strategies to help people become their most authentic selves and create positive relationships moving forward. Clients to whom I have recommended this book have come away feeling better understood and more empowered to create healthier relationships despite their experiences with immature adults. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore attachment wounds and begin a journey of healing in relationships!”