Books I found useful on my therapy journey
- risham9
- Jan 2, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 3, 2024
Here is a starting list of some books, which I have found very useful in my own therapeutic and academic journey. Some are a great introduction into human behaviour whilst for others they can be a good add-on to previous knowledge and experience of therapy. The books do not need to be read from start to finish, I tend to pick through sections which appeal to me or relate my own circumstances. At other times, I have read parts which were totally new to me and provided for new insights and understanding.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Considered a groundbreaking book which really showed 'how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers' capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust'. For me, this was not new, many non-western philosophies have long stated that the body and mind, material experience and thought are all connected and stored in various parts of our brain and body. However, here we have an official Western study which substantiates what many have known and felt all their lives, but for many it will come as new understanding and help look at daily challenges from a more holistic point of view.
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder
This book is an excellent resource for individuals who suspect they have or have been diagnosed with ADHD. It's also highly beneficial for current and prospective parents, offering deep insights into the factors contributing to ADHD, including environmental influences and behavioural causes. The book encourages readers to reflect on their own childhood and understand the roots of their adult behaviour or the behaviour of their children, providing a valuable perspective not only on the development of ADHD but for me, that of character.
The Divided Self: An Existential Study in Sanity and Madness
This is not an easy read but a fascinating one ! It covers so many complex layers of the human mind and behaviour, hence why I believe it's useful for anyone on a self-development journey or those undertaking psychiatry / psychotherapy training.
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love
This book is a great introduction to attachment theory and how it plays out in one’s life. You don’t necessarily need to be looking for love per-se but it offers an overall framework for understanding and self-reflection about one's own attachment styles and how they impact us and others around us.
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Dr. Lindsay Gibson
Another interesting read on attachment theory particularly in relation to those who had what I would describe as a difficult relationship with their parents. It identifies a range of parenting styles that did not serve the child and therefore created issues later in life. Understanding that most behaviour is unconscious, not intentional, even that of our parents, can be a hard thing to accept, but the book suggests that 'By freeing yourself from your parents’ emotional immaturity, you can recover your true nature, control how you react to them, and avoid disappointment. Finally, you’ll learn how to create positive, new relationships so you can build a better life."
I will keep updating the blog with more suggestions, introducing new schools of thoughts and a variety of titles to cater for different audiences.
Thanks for reading,
Ri
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