Recommended Reading

Trauma Therapy & Emotional Healing

Abandonment & Attachment

The Journey from Abandonment to Healing: Revised and Updated — Surviving Through and Recovering from the Five Stages That Accompany the Loss of Love, by Susan Anderson
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents, by Lindsay C. Gibson
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find — and Keep — Love, by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

Betrayal Trauma

What Can I Do About Me?, by Rhyll Anne Croshaw
Moving Beyond Betrayal: The 5-Step Boundary Solution for Partners of Sex Addicts, by Vicki Tidwell Palmer

Boundaries, Codependency & Control

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Boundaries in Marriage, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself, by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself, by Melody Beattie
Compelled to Control: Recovering Intimacy in Broken Relationships, by J. Keith Miller
Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You, by Susan Forward
Imperfect Control: Our Lifelong Struggles With Power and Surrender, by Judith Viorst

Trauma, PTSD & Internal Family Systems (IFS)

What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey
The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk
It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle, by Mark Wolynn
Triggers: How We Can Stop Reacting and Start Healing, author unconfirmed — please verify before publishing
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, by Peter A. Levine
Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems, by Frank Anderson
No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model, by Richard Schwartz

Narcissistic Abuse & Coercive Control

Understanding the Patterns

Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men, by Lundy Bancroft
Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life, by Evan Stark
Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship, by Lisa Aronson Fontes
No Visible Bruises: What We Don't Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us, by Rachel Louise Snyder

Recovery and Rebuilding

It's Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People, by Dr. Ramani Durvasula
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Surviving a Relationship With a Narcissist, by Dr. Ramani Durvasula
Psychopath Free: Recovering from Emotionally Abusive Relationships With Narcissists, by Jackson MacKenzie
Healing from Hidden Abuse: A Journey Through the Stages of Recovery from Psychological Abuse, by Shannon Thomas
Will I Ever Be Good Enough? Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers, by Dr. Karyl McBride
Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving With the Self-Absorbed, by Wendy T. Behary

Anxiety, Depression & Self-Worth

Anxiety

Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry, by Catherine M. Pittman and Elizabeth M. Karle
The Worry Trick: How Your Brain Tricks You into Expecting the Worst and What You Can Do About It, by David A. Carbonell
Born Anxious: The Lifelong Impact of Early Life Adversity — and How to Break the Cycle, by Daniel P. Keating

Self-Worth, Confidence & Perfectionism

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, by Kristin Neff
Self-Love Workbook for Women: Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are, by Megan Logan
The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt, by Russ Harris
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, by Jen Sincero
Present Over Perfect, by Shauna Niequist
I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't), by Brené Brown

Thoughts & Overthinking

The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery, by Brianna Wiest
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck
Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life, by Susan David
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts, by Jennie Allen
Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life, by Anne Bogel
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, by David D. Burns

Stress & Burnout

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Widen the Window: Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive During Stress and Recover from Trauma, by Elizabeth A. Stanley
When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection, by Gabor Maté
Forward-Facing® Professional Resilience: Prevention and Resolution of Burnout, Toxic Stress and Compassion Fatigue, by Dr. J. Eric Gentry and Dr. Jeffrey Dietz

Grief & Loss Counseling

Grief and Loss

The Grief Recovery Handbook, 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses Including Health, Career, and Faith, by John W. James and Russell Friedman
Awakening from Grief: Finding the Way Back to Joy, by John E. Welshons
It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand, by Megan Devine
Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, by David Kessler
Transcending Loss: Understanding the Lifelong Impact of Grief and How to Make It Meaningful, by Ashley Davis Bush
Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief, by Pauline Boss
The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Lear from Love and Loss, by Mary-Frances O'Connor
The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing, by Mary-Frances O-Connor

End-of-Life

When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi
Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine, and What Matters in the End, by Atul Gawande
Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying, by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley
Death: The Final Stage of Growth, by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Couples & Relationship Therapy

Couples, Relationships & Intimacy

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert, by John Gottman
Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict Into Connection, by John & Julie Gottman
The Relationship Cure: A 5-Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships, by John Gottman
Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love, by John Gottman, Julie Schwartz Gottman, Doug Abrams, and Rachel Carlton Abrams
Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: And How You Can Make Yours Last, by John Gottman
Hold Me Tight, by Dr. Sue Johnson
His Needs, Her Needs: Making Romantic Love Last, by Willard F. Harley Jr.
Keeping the Love You Find: A Personal Guide, by Harville Hendrix
The Hard Questions: 100 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Say "I Do", by Susan Piver
Loving Your Spouse When You Feel Like Walking Away: Real Help for Desperate Hearts in Difficult Marriages, by Gary Chapman
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, by Gary Chapman
Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship, by Terrence Real
Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples, Third Edition, by Harville Hendrix
Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts: Nine Questions to Ask Before — and After — You Remarry, by Les and Leslie Parrott
How Can I Get Through to You? Closing the Intimacy Gap Between Men and Women, by Terrence Real
Knowing HER Intimately: 12 Keys for Creating a Sextraordinary Marriage, by Laura M. Brotherson
Compelled to Control: Recovering Intimacy in Broken Relationships, by J. Keith Miller — see Boundaries, Codependency & Control above

Communication & Conflict Resolution

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
The Anatomy of Peace, Fourth Edition: Resolving the Heart of Conflict, by The Arbinger Institute
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott

Life Transitions & Identity Discovery

Life Transitions

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brené Brown
Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brené Brown
Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions, by Emily P. Freeman
Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood, by Lisa Damour
Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone, by Brené Brown

Happiness, Purpose & Meaning

Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, by Tal Ben-Shahar
10% Happier, Revised Edition: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works, by Dan Harris
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, by Eckhart Tolle
Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Don Miguel Ruiz

Men's Mental Health

I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, by Terrence Real
No More Mr. Nice Guy, by Robert A. Glover

Women's Mental Health

Written for Women

Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive, by Kristin Neff
Come As You Are, Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life, by Emily Nagoski
Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection, and Guidance, by Kelly McDaniel
The Assertiveness Guide for Women: How to Communicate Your Needs, Set Healthy Boundaries, and Transform Your Relationships, by Julie de Azevedo Hanks

Chronic Illness & Caregiver Support

Cancer & Chronic Illness

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee
The Chronic Illness Workbook: Strategies and Solutions for Taking Back Your Life, by Patricia Fennell
When Someone You Love Has a Chronic Illness: Hope and Help for Those Providing Support, by Tamara Greenberg

Additional Topics

Emotions

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience, by Brené Brown
How Emotions Are Made, by Lisa Feldman Barrett

Forgiveness

How Can I Forgive You? The Courage to Forgive, the Freedom Not To, by Janis A. Spring
The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World, by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu

Memoir

Greenlights, by Matthew McConaughey

Mindfulness & Meditation

Heart Minded: How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love, by Sarah Blondi
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha, by Tara Brach
Full Catastrophe Living, Revised Edition: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness, by Jon Kabat-Zinn
The Power of Intention, by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise Hay

Parenting

Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility, by Foster Cline and Jim Fay

Personality

The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too), by Gretchen Rubin

Productivity & Time Management

Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most, by Greg McKeown
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear
Getting Things Done, by David Allen
The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success, by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters, by Laura Vanderkam
Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live), by Eve Rodsky
The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future, by Ryder Carroll

Success & Leadership

The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level, by Gay Hendricks
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick), by Seth Godin
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts., by Brené Brown