Reading
Corner

There are so many books from my library to choose from, deciding my top ten has been really difficult as I love all of them! Reading offers us so much insight into the world of amazing people, giving us a true understanding of their knowledge and the ability to see things from other peoples perspectives. I often recommend books or audio books (and podcasts) for my clients to listen to, as the work to be done on ourselves can’t just be limited to a weekly session of therapy. I tend to buy books upon recommendation then leave them on my shelf for months (I quite like just looking at them and knowing I have them). Once I read them, I think ‘why did I wait so long?’ So even if you just flick through and read the bits that stand out, it’s better than not reading at all.

So here is my top ten, which is changeable and there are so many more I haven’t been exposed to. Even as I’m typing this I’m thinking of other books I’ve read that are taking top spot!

The Road Less Travelled

M.Scott Peck

This was the first self-help book I read many years ago. I kept picking it up and putting it down as my brain wasn't ready for the information and it confused me, as it made me ask questions of myself. Giving me new ideas about love, life, the instant gratification we seek as humans. This book is a life changer and one I often gift to my clients at the end of therapy.

The Body Keeps the Score

Vassel Van Der Kolk

It’s hard not to give this book top spot as it has received so much publicity and praise. This book helps us understand how our body really does keep the score. Holding onto trauma, even when we think we’ve processed it in our head. How holding onto things from our past really can impact our health, wellbeing and many other aspects of our life. You won’t be disappointed with this read. BTW Van Der Kolk often does talks about this book which are fascinating and very easy to access, you will find these online.

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog

Bruce Perry

This book was one of the reasons I decided to specialise in trauma. Each chapter is a real life story about a traumatic event a person has experienced and how the therapist helped them work through this. Both moving and educational, I listened to this on audio and could not stop listening. This book is good for therapists with an interest in trauma, yet equally as informative for people who have a lived experience. You may not be ready to talk about your history, somehow listening to these chapters can be cathartic and healing.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

Lindsay Gibson

The title of this book says everything, so many clients have read this book and feel as though it was written for them, about their parents. The core of a very large portion of my work with clients boils down to their parents. If this stirs something in you, give it go, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Women Who Run with the Wolves

Clarissa Pinolka Estes

If you are questioning the engrained culture women are born into, this is the book for you. This book gave me so much empowerment as a person (not just for females) it filled me with contentment. This looks at the hidden battles women have from the moment they were born from the expectation society demands from you, relationships, understanding ourselves and so much more. I can honestly say this was a life changer for me. It would be my number one book of all time if this top ten was for my personal development.

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Paulo Coelho

A lovely, nourishing read that lifted my soul, reigniting my faith in human beings. An easy read looking how material things really don’t mean anything. This book is grounding with something in it that everyone can learn from. If you’re getting caught up in life, money, work, objects and questioning ‘what’s it all for?’ this book is for you.

Hold on to your kids

Gabor Mate

Mate is an inspiration and has written so many good books, it’s hard to choose. The reason I have put this in my top ten is because I see and work with so many children who are lost due to being engulfed in the world of social media, losing their sense of direction, boundaries and parenting. This book is so helpful to parents who are questioning the world our children are developing in. This book will give you insight into how important you are as a parent and what a healthy relationship of a parent child looks like.

The Way Home

Mark Boyle

A few years I trained in delivering Outdoor Therapy which again was another life changer. It helped me reconnect with the universe and understand how much we need to connect with nature to thrive (and survive). This book is a real life story of a man who gave everything up to live in nature. It offers you the opportunity to taste what life would be like, prompting ideas of how I can interweave some of these ideas into my life, enabling you to connect with the earth, reaping the benefits of a more organic approach to life and reducing our need for so much technology and instant gratification.

Complex PTSD

Pete Walker

A difficult, yet thoroughly informative read, giving you an insight into the complexities of CPTSD. Once again this motivated me to have a deeper understanding of trauma and the powerful impact trauma has on our lives. Good for anyone to read.

The Gift of Therapy

Irvin Yalom

A beautifully written book by the amazingly talented, world renowned, therapist Irvine Yalom. This book is a reminder of the great change that can come with therapy. I read this when I need my soul nourishing. (Yalom is now in his 80’s and is still a practising therapist – for a reasonable price you can have a one off, on line therapy session with him, he also invites you to ask him anything! This is on my Xmas or Birthday list!)