Welcome to What Your Therapists Are Reading January 2016! I must say I am so excited that I have been at this for over a year now! It is good to start and follow through with something each month. I am so thankful for all the amazing therapists in our world who take the time to share incredible resources with our readers. This month we will not disappointment. Anxiety in kids, helping men live authentically, finding your voice, raising boys, exploring the mind-body connection and establishing a morning routine, plus much more.
Why Smart Kids Worry and What Parents Can Do to Help Allison Edwards, LPC
The author’s ability to provide information for parents to help their child deal with anxiety in a concise and approachable manner makes this book unique from other books on the subject. She not only provides 15 tools for parents, she also helps parents look at how they process emotions vs. their child as well as how to answer the “tough” questions their child may ask. This book can be helpful for not just parents with kids who are high-achieving but all kids who have worries. You can connect with Julie Safranski, LCSW at www.juliesafranski.com
A look at a man’s journey to finding intimacy and authenticity in his relationships, his work, with his wife, and with himself. A candid portrayal of what struggles men have in being vulnerable, intimate, and letting go. What choices does a person make when they start seeing through their own bullshit? Fantastic read for men wanting to know how to connect better with their wives, friends, and family. You can connect with John Harrison, MA, LPCC at johnharrisoncounseling.com
Playing Big: Find your voice, your mission, your message Tara Mohr
I started listening to the audiobook version of this while on a long drive out of state, and I’m about halfway through it so far. The author presents a problem, that women are not as prevalent in the top positions of organizations and corporations as men, and offers practical strategies for women to change that. The audiobook was great, because she has journaling prompts and visualizations as part of the book and she reads them out to you. I’ve been recommending this book to clients since I started reading it! You can connect with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C at www.laurareaganlcswc.com
Raising Cain, protecting the emotional life of boys
by Dan Kindlon PhD and Michael Thompson PhD
This book was in the top five favorite books I’ve ever read. (I’m a mom of three boys and psychologist, so I might be a little biased 🙂 ) It included research and examples to explain the emotional workings and need of boys. There were so many good points, but just to name a few: They’re just as sensitive as girls and should be taught (as girls are) emotional literacy; mom and dad are important and play different roles; the social culture of boys is a jungle where dominance is sought-after; They need to be accepted and understood, and when this doesn’t happen, depression and acting out can occur; Honor their need for autonomy, adequacy, physical activity, and masculinity without condemnation. You can connect with Angelica Shiels psy.d. clinical psychologist at Facebook.com/Ontheyellowcouch
Dancing in the flames: The dark goddess in the transformation of consciousness
by Marion Woodman and Elinor Dickson
Marion and Elinor use poetry and myth to help us turn our heads towards pain and look at it directly – leading to transformation. It is so difficult to do this and they put the struggle into the context of human history and experience which perhaps makes it a little more palatable… You can connect with Alison Crosthwait, Registered Psychotherapist at thegoodtherapists.com
This book does a great job of identifying common themes among all the major theoretical orientations and breaking down some of the artificial barriers that exist between them. It also discusses about the characteristics of therapy that have been shown to have the biggest impact on client change and success. You can connect with Jonathan Smith, PsyD, LPC at jsmith@liveoakchicago.com
Molecules of Emotion: The Science behind Mind-Body Science
Molecules of Emotions explains how our body carries our emotions through the neuropeptides of our DNA. Support chinese medicine and muscle testing protocols. You can connect with Jason Wasser, LMFT, CAP, CHT at www.thefamilyroomsfl.com or Jason@thefamilyroomsfl.com
The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Way To Transform Your Life Before 8am by Hal Elrod
I love concept of this book. Get up early to engage in self-care in the morning (what Elrod calls SAVERS) and have some alone time doing them. Although I have found it difficult to get all my morning routine done each morning, I am trying and find I am more productive on the days that I do my routine. You can connect with Jessica Fowler, LCSW at www.jlfcounselingservices.com
A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
It may be the “special” Sherlock that was released on New Year’s Day, but I always find some comfort in a good mystery. Unlike life (and often therapy!), mystery books usually have closure and unambiguous endings. A Study in Scarlet is the first Sherlock Holmes story written. It’s fun to see the start of this iconic character whose observations teach him so much about people, but his friend teaches him so much more about being a person. You can connect with Justin Lioi, LCSW | Men’s Counseling at www.ParkSlopeTherapist.com
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. How We Can Learn to Fulfill Our Potentional by Carol Dweck
A great book about the fixed mindset versus the growth mindset. The chapters are so well put together in expressing the two mindsets in work, our relationships, personally and within the education system. You can connect with Maureen Werrbach, LCPC at www.urbanwellnesscounseling.com or facebook.com/urbanwellnesscounseling
I’ve known about EMDR for a long time but am learning so much about how the brain works and the way it holds on to both big and small (as Shapiro refers to them) traumatic experiences. The book provides a highly detailed explanation of the evidence-based therapeutic process but is merely a prerequisite for the training I’m taking at the end of the month. I really enjoy how Shaprio provides specific case examples and transcriptions of client sessions to make the treatment process clearly understood by the reader. It’s just fascinating how symptoms associated with particular traumatic experiences diminish throughout treatment. You can connect with Rachel Rabinor, LCSW at rachelrabinor.com
Have you read any of these books? Any that you will run right out to get? I know each month my list just gets longer! We do this every month so make sure to check back and check out What Your Therapists Are Reading. You can find links to all of last year in the blog post for December 2015. If you are a therapist and would like to share book, feel free to contact me via email.
Happy Reading,
Jessica Fowler, LCSW
*The information in this post is for educational and informational purposes only. If you are in need of therapist, please find a local mental health professional.