Can you read or listen your way to better mental health? Yes and no. Reading and listening can bring you new perspectives and ideas, but they don’t automatically result in change. If you read or listen and still feel stuck, therapy can help! Let’s talk about what you’re reading or hearing and explore whether and how to apply what you’re learning.
Click any topic below to find some of my favorite helpful books, podcasts, and websites. Your local library may have many of the books available in print, or in e-book or audiobook form via the app Libby. Most libraries are quite responsive to patron requests as well, so if your library does not carry something you want, do ask! These books may also be easily found to purchase new and used via AbeBooks, Amazon, Bookshop, Powell’s Books, or your local bookshop.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Self-Help
The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living, by Russ Harris
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, by Steven C. Hayes, with Spencer Smith
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Mindful: A Toolkit Based on the Principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a free, self-paced online mini-course created by Jeremy Jenkins & Andrew Ahles to help you increase your psychological flexibility.
ACTmindfully.au website: a lot of great free ACT resources by Russ Harris.
Social Anxiety, Dating, Perfectionism
How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists, by Ellen Hendriksen
How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise above Social Anxiety, by Ellen Hendriksen
How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love, by Logan Ury
Eco-Anxiety, Climate Change Grief
Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Anxiety, by Britt Wray
I Want a Better Catastrophe: Navigating the Climate Crisis with Grief, Hope, and Gallows Humor, by Andrew Boyd
Surviving Climate Anxiety: A Guide to Coping, Healing, and Thriving, by Dr. Thomas Doherty
Trauma and PTSD
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving, by Pete Walker
Life after Trauma: A Workbook for Healing, by Dena Rosenbloom and Mary Beth Williams, with Barbara E. Watkins
Religious Trauma, Deconstruction, Deconversion, Loss of Belief System
When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion, by Laura E. Anderson
Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion, by Marlene Winell
Grief, Suicide
When Life Hits Hard: How to Transcend Grief, Crisis, and Loss with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, by Russ Harris
What to Do Right Now (and Later Today, Tomorrow, and Next Week) When Your Child Is Suicidal, by Tara Rolstad
Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors
Parenting
Good Inside: A Practical Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, by Dr. Becky Kennedy
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7, by Joanna Faber & Julie King
What to Do Right Now (and Later Today, Tomorrow, and Next Week) When Your Child Is Suicidal, by Tara Rolstad
Understanding and Managing ADHD, also ADHD in Relationships
How to ADHD: An Insider’s Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not against It), by Jessica McCabe
The Mini ADHD Coach: Tools and Support to Make Life Easier. A Visual Guide, by Alice Gendron
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing, by k.c. davis
The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps, by Melissa Orlov
Melissa Orlov’s ADHD and Marriage website
Relationships, Betrayal, Forgiveness, Repair
ACT with Love: Stop Struggling, Reconcile Differences, and Strengthen Your Relationship with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, by Russ Harris
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert, by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver (also other books by Gottman)
The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps, by Melissa Orlov
The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize It and How to Respond, by Patricia Evans
The Betrayal Bind: How to Heal When the Person You Love the Most Hurts You the Worst, by Michelle Mays
How Can I Forgive You: The Courage to Forgive, the Freedom Not To, by Janis Abrahms Spring
Autism
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity, by Devon Price
Connecting with the Autism Spectrum: How to Talk, How to Listen, and Why You Shouldn’t Call It High-Functioning, by Casey “Remrov” Vormer
Embrace-Autism.com has many free autism tests you can complete online, with helpful introductions about the pros and cons of each test and how to understand your results. Note: self-testing can be helpful, but it can also be misleading and does not result in a diagnosis.
Habits, Nutrition, Medication
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear
Change Your Diet Change Your Mind: A Powerful Plan to Improve Mood, Overcome Anxiety, and Protect Memory for a Lifetime of Optimal Mental Health, by George Ede, MD
Crossing Zero: The Art and Science of Coming Off and Staying Off Psychiatric Drugs, by Anders Sørensen (Note: I am not against psychiatric drugs; I think it is important to know how to safely come off them when appropriate.)
Work, Career
Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life, by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans (also see Designing Your Work Life, by the same authors, but start with the first one)
website: O*NET online, a place to explore your career interests and find data about occupations
Sleep, Insomnia
The Sleep Book, by Guy Meadows
video: ACT for sleep: 3 steps to help with insomnia, by Dr Maja Schaedel