There’s a lot of misinformation out there – on social media, in movies, and in literature. It can be tough to know what and who to trust, especially when it comes to your wellbeing.
Luckily, we’ve put together a list of books that our trained clinicians recommend to their own clients. We’ve also included the author’s credentials and a quick summary of each one, so you know what you’re getting into ahead of time!
1) Good Morning, I Love You
This book is more than just a kind morning greeting. In Shauna Shapiro’s Good Morning, I Love You she delves into the science behind why we feel the way we do. Shapiro explains how and why we get stuck in patterns of thinking that negatively affect our lives, then teaches the reader how to reverse this wiring through mindfulness and self-compassion.
Credentials: Shauna Shapiro (PhD) is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles (that is, they were scrutinized by others in the field) and written four books. In other words, you can trust what she writes!
Find it on: Indigo, $26.00.
2) The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
As the name suggests, Nathaniel Branden’s The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem delves into the importance of self-esteem in the workplace, parenting, education, psychotherapy, and overall culture. It introduces six action-based practices that the reader can incorporate into everyday life to boost their confidence and psychological wellbeing.
Credentials: Nathaniel Branden was a respected psychotherapist, who dedicated over 70 years to psychological practice. He founded the Branden Institute for Self Esteem and wrote over 15 books on the topic.
Find it on: Indigo – $29.00.
3) The Explosive Child
This is for the parents who experience daily battles with easily frustrated children. Ross Greene offers a compassionate explanation for these difficulties, and teaches readers to identify lagging skills, solve problems as a team, implement evidence-based practices and alter family dynamics.
Credentials: Ross Greene a clinical psychologist with over thirty years of experience under his belt.
Find it on: Indigo – $24.99.
4) Breakup Bootcamp
Breakup bootcamp is a guide that can be used by anyone in the throes of relationships and breakups. It guides the reader through heartbreak, teaching them to transform it into a path to self-actualization.
Credentials: Amy Chan herself experienced the heartbreak that follows infidelity when her partner cheated on her. This led her to create Renew Breakup Bootcamp, the world’s first science-backed heartbreak camp.
Find it on: Indigo – $24.99.
5) The Mountain is You
This book is for those who often find themselves self-sabotaging, stuck in harmful patterns but can’t seem to find a way out. Brianna Wiest guides the reader through identifying these patterns, understanding why they exist, and what to do about them.
Credentials: Though Brianna Wiest is not clinically trained in psychology, readers admire her self-reflection and philosophical writings. She has written four bestselling books and has a BA in English.
Find it on: Amazon – $22.99.
6) The Body Keeps the Score
This book outlines the brain-body connection, and how it is affected by traumatic experiences. The author explains how trauma rewires the brain, and how treatments like yoga, drama, and neurofeedback can help the individual recover.
Credentials: Dr. Van Der Kolk has spent over thirty years working with individuals recovering from traumatic experiences. He is a psychiatrist and researcher – much of the book’s contents are based on his own scientific research.
Find it on: Indigo – $25.00.
7) Fair Play
Eve Rodsky provides real solutions to resolving the unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities that often fall to women. She identifies 100 main household tasks and helps the reader divide them fairly, strengthening relationships and promoting equality.
Credentials: Eve Rodsky has a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Harvard Law school. She founded the Philanthropy Advisory Group, and understands the burden women bear after being raised by a single mom, and starting a family of her own.
Find it on: Penguin Random House – $20.00.
8) The Wisdom of Your Body
Hillary McBride explains that many of us feel disconnected from our bodies due to discrimination and patriarchal norms. She teaches the reader to embrace embodied living, and connect with themselves,using evidence-based practices.
Credentials: Hillary McBride (PhD) is a Canadian Psychologist and has won awards for her research.
Find it on: Indigo – $24.99.
9) It Didn’t Start With You
This book explains the impacts of generational trauma. The experiences of our parents and grandparents can underlie unexplained symptoms of depression, anxiety, fears, and more. It can even alter our genes – called epigenetic mechanisms! Mark Wolynn teaches this, and how to end the cycle, in It Didn’t Start With You.
Credentials: Mark Wolynn is a certified regression therapist and neuromuscular therapist. He founded and directs the Family Constellation Institute, Hellinger Institute of California, and is the creator of The Core Language Approach.
Find it on: Indigo – $37.00.
10) Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System
Anchored explores why our nervous systems tend to go into overdrive when we’re not truly in danger, such as after a fight with a partner. Deb Dana explains the Polyvagal Theory, a way to train the nervous system to feel safe during these situations.
Credentials: Deb Dana is a licensed clinical social worker and lectures internationally about Polyvagal Theory.
Find it on: Amazon – $26.99.
11) The Gifts of Imperfection
Brene Brown wrote this as an “invitation to join a wholehearted revolution.” The author encourages the reader to embrace their messiness and mistakes, and truly accept who they are. The book guides the reader to choose authenticity and celebrate joyful moments.
Credentials: Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, holding the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair. She has spent two decades researching and studying shame, vulnerability and empathy.
Find it on: Brene’s website.
12) The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Though not a self-help book, this is a great read for kids (and adults!). Charles Mackesy explores themes of curiosity, greed, anxiousness and wisdom in this book. Throughout the little boy’s journey, he discovers important life lessons and indulges in thought-provoking conversations.
Find it on: Indigo – $28.50,
13) No Bad Parts
This is another great read for the kiddos. Richard Schwartz and Bethany Hegedus based their book on Schwartz’ Internal Family Systems therapy model. It follows a young boy who learns to accept big feelings, and the various parts of himself.
Credentials: Both Richard Schwartz and Bethany Hegedus have PhDs. As mentioned, Schwartz created the Internal Family Systems model, a widely used and respected therapeutic modality.
Find it on: Amazon – $24.56
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