Ever wonder what your therapist reads? Well you are about to find out. I have gathered therapists from all over the world to share what they are reading this month with you. There are a lot of great books out there and we are here to share them with you.
What Your Therapist is Reading
February 2015
Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas
Shana Verdine, LCSW
I am re-reading Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas. This book helped me to change the wife that I am to my husband. Our marriage was strengthened based on applications from this book. Gary Thomas helps the reader to understand how the male mind works and ways women can encourage and influence their spouse. I have used pieces of this book in my practice and appreciate the practical applications presented in the book.
Shana Verdine, LCSW specializes in addiction, co-dependency, couples and Christian Counseling. You can connect with Shana Verdine, LCSW here.
Rebecca Wong, LCSW
I’m reading “Mindful Compassion” by Paul Gilbert and Choden and geeking out on the blending together evolutionary and Buddhist psychology, think of it as the neuroscience behind mindfulness! Through human evolution our brains have become extraordinarily complex, but aren’t so well put together. Gilbert and Choden teach that compassion begins with noticing our brain’s wonderfully complex, tricky and troublesome conflicting motivations. Through our understanding of how our minds have evolved we gain insight into the powerfully irrational forces that both guide our lives and cause us suffering. And how we can avoid getting lost in the chaos of our drives. It’s about mindfully noticing our motivations and choosing which to explore and which to be cautious of.
You can connect with Rebecca Wong, LCSW at www.rebeccawonglcsw.com
You can connect with Rebecca Wong, LCSW at www.rebeccawonglcsw.com
Jamie L. Summer Stacks, LPC, LADAC and Mindful Living Expert
“Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change” reminds us that the only certain is change and that we tend to desperately try to hold on to things or people or ways of thinking. The key this book teaches is accepting that this will never happen and that the only way to really cope is to become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Very eye opening me and I recommend it to clients and friends alike.
Jamie L. Summers Stacks, LPC, LADAC and Mindful Living Expert strives to bring mindfulness and the huge benefits it can have to everyone I can. I provide mental health therapy and do media interviews, speaking and training for other mental health professionals. You can connect with Jamie at www.jamiestackstherapy.com
Laura Hollywood, Counsellor
I’m reading Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway for my #mhbookclub on Twitter. It’s a look at how recognising your thought patterns and how they hold you back from doing things can and help you to move forward in your life. It also looks at how positive thinking and affirmations can help to improve your self esteem.
Laura Hollywood, Counsellor, London, England. You can connect with Laura at www.laurahollywood.com
Michael Salas, MA, LPC-S, LCD, CSAT
I am currently reading Facing Codependence. Codependency by Pia Mellody is a term that many therapist and clients hear about, but it’s often unclear what traits actually are considered to be codependent. This book is a great resources that discusses traits that are associated with codependency, the origins of such traits and steps that people can take to cope.
You can connect with Michael at
Debbie McJimsey, LMFT
I’m reading Brainstorm by Dan Siegel, after hearing him speak at the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference last year I finally purchased the audio book and am working my way through it. I know the main point and I’m excited to use it, but the science part of it doesn’t keep my interest. I have already started to incorporate some of the themes into my work with teens … as well as their parents … and, I’m especially enjoying the new perspective that what is going on in my own 16 year old’s brain is actually necessary for her benefit … as well as the benefit of the ENTIRE species! Gotta love teenagers.
You can connect with Debbie at http://www.debbiemcjimseycounseling.com/
Laura Reagan, LCSW-C
I became interested in reading this book after learning about Kristin Neff’s and Christopher Germer’s work on Mindful Self Compassion. This book provides instruction on incorporating self compassion into one’s meditation practice. It’s a great book!
You can connect with Laura at www.laurareaganlcswc.com
Leana Sykes, M.Ed, LPC
An intriguing story of the evolution of a woman as told through the eyes of an evolutionist. You cannot help but feel along side of her as you watch her combine her understanding of her family of origin and her own unique strengths in efforts to understand and adapt drastic changes in her own physical and emotional. It is an epic story, a journey of a woman.
You can connect with Leana at www.leanasykescounseling.com
LaShawn Schultz, CSW
This is an excellent book on professional mindfulness, essentially. It’s easy to read and immediately applicable. It teaches you to love what you’re doing in the moments that you are doing it. You can connect with LaShawn at www.wasatchfamilytherapy.com
Yoga Skills for Therapists: Effective Practices for Mood Management Jamie L. Summers Stacks, LPC, LADAC
I am a psychotherapist by day and a yogi, mindful, meditating peace lover all the time. This books is a wealth of practical techniques and it has yogic exercises that don’t involve twisting into pretzel shapes. They are easily understood and can be taught to clients to use immediately. There are breathing techniques, mantras and everything in between. Amy backs up all of the techniques with studies and actual scientific proof that these things work making it applicable to even the hardest to convince clients or family/friends. Amy Weintraub has an amazing LifeForce Yoga training and this book just begins to touch on that. You can connect with Jamie at www.jamiestackstherapy.com
Renee Beck, LMFT #21060
A Hero’s journey through worlds within worlds, shadows within self, magic, love, struggle, transformation & the fantastique. Clive’s writing never ceases to amaze me, & transport me to a deeper aspect of myself. You can connect with Renee at www.ReneeBeckMFT.com
Mercedes Samudio, LCSW
The book I’m reading is a comic book series that focuses on the one thing that mostly all teens think about their parents: that they’re evil masterminds hell bent on controlling them! In this story, that actually turns out the be the truth! I read comics because I like to share with my tween/teen clients that there are really effective ways to release your energy and your feelings. And, this comic series (although it has some violence in it) is one that I share with my teen clients and we like to talk about the idea that the teens in the comic find that their parents are really evil bad guys who are trying to take over the world. My teens like to talk about it and the parallels that occur in their lives with their parents. Mercedes Samudio, LCSW is a family and parenting coach. You can connect with Mercedes at www.theparentingskill.com
Jessica Fowler, LCSW
In the book, The Gifts of Imperfection Brene Brown talks about “wholehearted” living. Something I am trying to work on for myself. We often set up expectations for ourselves and others. Learning to let go of those expectations and embrace who you really are is important. Brene Brown offers guided posts at the end of her book that I often recommend.
You can connect with Jessica at www.jlfcounselingservices.com
Kimela Kluthe, MA, PLMFT
This is a great book that discusses what it is-scientifically and socially/culturally-that undermines women’s self-confidence. Why is it that when most men are made an offer for a job they automatically counter with a request for more money or benefits, but women say “yes, thank you”? Why do women typically undervalue their knowledge and skills while men do the opposite? My favorite quote so far is: “Confidence occurs when the insidious self-perception that you aren’t able to trumped by the stark reality of your achievements.” Wow! This is a great lesson for men and women everywhere. Forget the “I can’t” and look at “my past accomplishments are…” and see where it takes you. You can connect with Kimela at kimelakluthe.wordpress.com
Thank you for taking the time to read what your therapists are reading for February, 2015. We hope that you have found it helpful and will be picking up some new books.
Did you miss last months? No worries, we just started this series, so you are only behind 1 month and you can check out January 2015.
Are you a therapist and want to share what you are reading? Well we are doing this every month os email me at jlfcounselingservices (@) gmail (dot) com.
Happy Reading,
Jessica Fowler, LCSW
What a great list of books!! Thanks for putting this together!
Thanks!
Thank you for letting me be part of this great post! I’ve also added a few great reads to my list!
No problem. I love doing this. It is such a great way to find more books to read!
So many good ones…love all things related to mindfulness and Brene Brown and thanks for posting as I needed a good recommendation for Codependency other than Alanon books and Boundaries! Thanks you.
Such a good list and really fun to see what my colleagues are reading!