6 Inspiring Books For Therapy Clients Who Want to Improve Their Lives

There is something so special that happens when you read a good book: it clicks! The words you read strike a chord and the author’s message resonates. Has this ever happened to you?

Maybe the stories told were somehow similar to your own experiences. It could be that the vocabulary helped you paint a profound mental picture, or communicated something you found especially moving. It’s possible that a viewpoint the author shared struck you as particularly significant or eye-opening.

Or perhaps it was timing – the book came to you at exactly the right moment in your life. Whatever the reason, the book made you feel seen and left a lasting impact on you.

How can books help therapy clients?

Any book that interests you can potentially affect you, but especially so when the timing is just right! If you are ready for change, reading a compelling book can be a powerful catalyst. The right words and perspectives may be what you need to help you begin a new path that leads to transformation in your life. This spark is possible whether you are currently in therapy or not!

Picking up a book that explores topics relevant to your goals can light a fire within you. Its message could help you process uncertainty, discover new ideas and possibilities, or inspire a new chapter of self-discovery in your life. It could be just the thing to help you feel less stuck and enable you to take the next step forward.

“Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood.” – John Green

At Andrews & Associates Counseling, we love books for the power they have to help our clients understand and feel understood. To celebrate National Reading Month, our providers have selected several titles that resonate with them.

We encourage you to browse through this list of book recommendations and, if they are right for you, consider adding them to your reading list (please let us know if you do – we would be excited to hear your thoughts!). In any case, take this as a reminder to pick up a good book! We hope you find ideas, encouragement, or other bits of personal value within its pages as you move toward greater wellbeing.

6 therapist-recommended books for therapy clients:

1. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know

Author: Adam M. Grant

Categories: Psychology, Self Help, Personal Development, Leadership

Book recommendation by: Dr. Stephanie Wick, LCMFT, LCAC

“A must read for anyone who values critical thinking and not just settling for ‘conviction over the discomfort of doubt.’ Brilliantly written by an Organizational Psychologist, Think Again challenges us to embrace mental flexibility and prompts the reader to rethink and unlearn long held beliefs, ideas, conviction, or biases.”

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2. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

Author: Oliver Burkeman

Categories: Self Help, Philosophy, Productivity, Psychology

Book recommendation by: Dr. Stephanie Wick, LCMFT, LCAC

“The average human life is roughly four thousand weeks long, yet most of us try to fit in ten lifetimes worth of work, projects, and to-do’s into our ridiculously short lives. This book rejects the productivity and progress obsessed world in favor of embracing our finitude and therefore living a more meaningful life.”

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3. Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

Author: Dr. Sue Johnson

Categories: Relationships, Psychology, Marriage, Communication

Book recommendation by: Gennifer Leach, MS, LMFT

“This book is written by the developer of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. Throughout the book she addresses many significant patterns and cycles that can create roadblocks to connecting in relationships. After identifying and understanding the negative cycles, she holds seven conversations for couples to increase accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement. The key to the book is building safety, openness, and more attuned, secure relationships.”

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4. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Author: James Clear

Categories: Self Help, Psychology, Personal Development, Productivity

Book recommendation by: Kimberly Suderman, LSCSW

“If you are looking to adopt new habits, accomplish goals, and make lasting changes in your life, this book is a must read. James Clear makes a case for getting 1% better every day with strategies and real-life stories that make a huge impact.”

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5. Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

Author: Dr. Becky Kennedy

Categories: Parenting, Self Help, Psychology, Family

Book recommendation by: Chris Barker, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern

“If you feel like your current approach to parenting is not quite working, Good Inside does a wonderful job of helping readers understand what may be going on in our children’s lives and how we can work to deepen relational bonds. While targeted at parents with young children, there is plenty of content for parents at any stage of life. I gained a lot of perspective about my own journey and would have found a lot of value in reading Good Inside even if I didn’t have children of my own. It gave me great tools for working to improve my kid’s mental health and my own.”

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6. It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle

Author: Mark Wolynn

Categories: Psychology, Mental Health, Self Help, Social Work

Book recommendation by: Brooke Thornbrugh, LMFT

“I love this book because it explores the generational impact that trauma has on us. This book is informational but also has prompts that can help you start thinking about the ways in which you may be impacted by intergenerational trauma. It is a book that I would recommend not only for clients but other clinicians.”

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Looking for more? Jump over to this list: 7 GREAT BOOKS FOR THERAPY CLIENTS • HANDPICKED BY THERAPISTS

Tell Your Story

Books of any genre can provide great material for therapy clients to use as an outlet (for relaxation), or as a model for personal development (aka self-help). There may be something you read that mirrors your own journey and can help you describe what you are going through to others. And that’s important because your story matters!

“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” – Mortimer J. Adler

The things you have experienced and the perspectives you have developed throughout your life can influence how you think and feel. Depending on where you are at this moment in your life, digging into your past experiences, finding ways to face present struggles, and/or creating goals for the future can play a part in how your story develops from this point forward.

If you have read through this list, you are probably seeking change. Regardless of the ups and downs life throws at you, you want things to get better. And of course, you want to feel better too. Whether you perceive that a change is needed in your relationship, your family life, at work, or on another level – it will always involve you.

Remember, there are no “good” feelings or “bad” feelings. Your feelings are valid. But if, more often than not, you are not feeling well, there are ways to help that. You may have thoughts or behaviors that have stopped you from moving forward, or have made it more difficult to improve your life. You are not alone in those struggles – and there is hope.

Therapy can help

Therapy is a safe and confidential way to heal and grow. We all need a space where we can tell our story, express ourselves, and be heard without judgement. A space where we can work through what is bothering us so that we can thrive. It’s never too late (or too soon) for therapy.

We invite you to reflect on what part of your story – past, present, or future – you are focused on today. How do you think your story (both the written and yet-unwritten pages) might help you grow? Journal your thoughts for self-reflection, or share your observations with your therapist in session.

If you are interested in starting therapy, find a therapist that resonates with you and contact us for appointment scheduling options. ⯁