Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts by Les and Leslie Parrott is a faith based perspective on common roadblocks couples face. This is a great resource for engaged couples and tackles myths about marriage, expectations, spiritual intimacy and more.
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie is a fantastic book and relatable for many readers. The author speaks from personal experience and research on issues surrounding codependency, alcohol/substance abuse, self-sacrificing, roles in family of origin, and more. It is an empowering read on how to pursue healing for oneself. -Check out my post The Codependency Coaster for my favorite quotes from this book!
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk is a more challenging read, but excellent resource to better understand how trauma affects the brain and body.
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown is a wonderful exploration on what it means to be vulnerable. A must read for more effective engagement in emotional intimacy.
(This one is for a fun read) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a classic that is actually good (in my biased opinion). My favorite quote from the book is one I hope to make into wall art some day. “One of the sweet uses of adversity is the genuine satisfaction which comes from hearty work of head or hand; and to the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the world.”
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See is a historical fiction book about Jeju Island’s Haenyeo divers. It is an incredible story of tragic trauma, resilience, friendship, and forgiveness.
Tear Soup by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen is written and illustrated like a children’s book, but is really applicable for all ages (I have even read this with adult clients). It is the most beautiful display of what grief and loss look like and includes helpful tips and resources on the ending pages.
Emily Brown’s Patterns of Infidelity and Their Treatment is a book I would recommend to fellow clinicians. It is a great tool for discovering ways to serve clients who have experienced affairs. It also categorizes the different types of affairs with specific intervention recommendations for each type.
C.S. Lewis’ A Grief Observed is an honest telling of his personal journey through the grief process after losing his wife to cancer. It is a short read, but so very valuable.
Keeping the House by Ellen Baker is another “for fun” read. It holds two of my favorite aspects found in novels- 1: historical fiction (this novel takes place during both World Wars) and 2: multigenerational (this novel travels through three different generations and brings you back to present time)
Gentle Whispers by Julie Gorman is a 40 day devotional. A client gifted this to me when we closed our work together, so I want to pay it forward and recommend it to you. This is my favorite devotional book I’ve read, so if you are looking for a good contextual-scripture-based-devo- look no further!
Would it really be a library without these? If you haven’t read them-read them!
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl is a book divided into two parts. Frankl was a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. The first half of the book describes his experience at Auschwitz and other concentration camps. The second half of the book explores his theory Logotherapy. This book is an insightful and empowering read on how life has meaning even in the most miserable and atrocious circumstances. Please look for my post on my favorite quotes from this book!
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See was the first book I read from Lisa See (I have enjoyed every one of her books, so if you have a chance check them out!) This book is about nineteenth century China and details the practice of foot binding while taking you through history through the lens of two friends.
Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend is a hugely popular book, and for good reason. This book is a wonderful introduction to the importance of boundaries, how and when to set boundaries, biblical principles that support boundaries, what boundaries look like in different contexts, and more!
Brain Flower 