Book Suggestions

Clients occasionally ask me to recommend good books to supplement our therapy sessions.  Here are some of the ones I often suggest:

Sue Johnson (2008)  Hold Me Tight:  Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love.  Johnson explains normal adult attachment needs that are the very foundation of our couple relationships in this very accessible book using her evidence based EFT (Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy). See the associated website for more information about this great book!  http://www.holdmetight.net/hold_me_tight.php

This next one is a terrific book with a horrible title. John Preston, PsyD (2006) The Complete Idiot's Manual - Managing Your Moods. The author himself says this on his website  http://www.psyd-fx.com/html/books.html  about this book -  "Not for idiots.  For human beings dealing with difficult life circumstances:  grief, stress, depression, plain English, compassionate and practical."

Bruce Perry MD, & Maia Szalavitz (2010).  Born for Love:  Why Empathy is Essential - and Endangered.  See descriptions of this good book at your favorite on-line bookseller.  

Scott E. Spradlin, MA (2003) Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life: How Dialectical Behavior Therapy Can Put You in Control.  

Daniel J. Siegel, MD & Mary Hartzell, MEd (2003) Parenting from the Inside Out. This very accessible explanation of how meeting infants and young children's attachment needs influences their healthy brain development. For more information see Dr. Siegel's website  http://drdansiegel.com/?page=books&sub=parenting_from_the_inside_out

For chronic worriers, consider reading this little gem of a paperback for helpful coping strategies.  Beverly Potter, PhD (2009) The Worrywart's Companion:  Twenty-One Ways to Soothe Yourself and Worry Smart.  You can also see the author's website http://www.docpotter.com/worry.html  

Needing help with coparenting? Elizabeth S. Thayer, PhD and Jeffrey Zimmerman, PhD (2001) The Co-Parenting Survival Guide: Letting Go of Conflict after a Difficult Divorce.

Stuck in weight cycling (yo-yo dieting)? Check this eating disorder specialist's self help book that teaches readers the science of overeating and how to reset one's appetite. Her charting can be a bit daunting so try it for a week or two and see if you need to do it longer.  Anne Katherine (2006) How to Make Almost Any Diet Work: Repair Your Disordered Appetite and Finally Lose Weight.

Janis Abrahms Spring, PhD (1996) After the Affair: Healing the Pain and Rebuilding Trust When a Partner Has Been Unfaithful.  This book has sections for both the wounded partner and the offending partner.  See the author's website http://janisaspring.com/.

Becky A. Bailey, PhD (2001) Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline: The 7 Basic Skills for Turning Conflict into Cooperation.  For more information about the author, see her website  http://www.beckybailey.com/baileybio.cfm

Julie A. Fast & John Preston, PsyD (2004) Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder. 

Devin Starlanyl and Mary Ellen Copeland (2001) Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain:  A Survival Manual, 2nd Ed.  This book is full of practical advice and scholarly information put into everyday language. I have recommended this book to several local physicians to help mutual patients.

Melba Colgrove, PhD, Harold H. Bloomfield, MD, and Peter McWilliams (1993) How to Survive the Loss of a Love.

Jane Nelson, EdD (2006) Positive Discipline.  This is a new edition of her 1980s classic.  Be sure to get the newest edition.

Meg Eastman, PhD ( 1994) Taming the Dragon in Your Child: Solutions for Breaking the Cycle of Family Anger.