Book Recommendations
A quick note…
Take what feels helpful and leave the rest. You’re allowed to disagree with a book, stop halfway through, or realize it’s not for you.
Disclaimer: These are optional resources and not a substitute for therapy.
A good book can help you feel seen, give language to what you’re experiencing, or offer a new way of understanding yourself. But it’s not a replacement for therapy, and it doesn’t need to feel like homework.
This is a small, curated list of books I come back to often—either ones I recommend to clients or ones that have shaped how I think about this work.
You don’t need to read all of them. Just start with what stands out.
UnderstandingTrauma &Healing
This is one I come back to a lot. It helps connect the dots between past experiences and present day emotional or physical responses. If you’ve ever thought, “why do I react like this?” this can offer some clarity.
Relationships & Attachment
A really accessible way to understand attachment styles and relationship patterns. This one tends to click for people pretty quickly, especially around dating and communication.
This one is great if you’re in a relationship and want something a little more structured. It walks through eight meaningful conversations that help you understand each other on a deeper level things like trust, conflict, sex, and shared meaning. I like this one because it’s practical without feeling rigid, and it can open up conversations that people don’t always know how to start.
Substance Use &
Relationship with Alcohol
This is a different take on alcohol use that challenges a lot of the traditional narratives around drinking and sobriety. It’s especially helpful if you’ve been questioning your relationship with alcohol but don’t fully connect with the “all or nothing” approach. I like this one because it’s honest, empowering, and invites you to define what change looks like on your own terms.
Identity, Boundaries &
Personal Growth
This is a really practical, straightforward guide to boundaries, what they are, why they matter, and how to actually communicate them. I recommend this one a lot because it takes something that can feel uncomfortable or unclear and makes it feel doable. Especially helpful if you tend to overextend yourself, avoid conflict, or feel guilty saying no.
Loss & Grief
This is one of the most validating grief books I recommend. It pushes back on the idea that grief needs to be “fixed” or rushed and instead makes space for the reality of loss. Especially helpful if you feel like people around you don’t fully get it.
This book explores how family trauma can carry across generations. It often resonates with people who are grieving not just a person, but the kind of family or support they didn’t have.
Disclaimer: These are optional resources and not a substitute for therapy.
Worksheets
Come As You Are
Come As You Are