Therapeutic Reflections
A weekly book review of clinical (and some non-clinical) book from the lens of a therapist.
In the world of self-help and/or clinical development, there are just TOO many books out there to read! How do you decide which ones are going to be worth your time? Which ones will resonate with your personal experiences? Which ones might support your healing? Which ones will help you to hone your professional specialties? Or maybe you need to expand your awareness into a new topic?
Let me help you with that!
I have a library card and am an avid reader (aka audiobook listener). I like to read the books my clients are reading and apply them as tools in our work together; I also like to recommend books to my clients to supplement our work together. I've spent the better part of my adult life reading books for coursework and to support research. And, let's face it, I'm passionate about my work as a therapist and I'm just plain curious about new, old, or emerging topics.
While I specialize in trauma, addiction, and dance/movement therapy, I find that my practice can benefit from expanding my awareness on a diversity of topics.
Need to catch up on past reviews?
“After a long hiatus, I have returned to read with you all once again! ”
Review released on 05/01/26
The DOSE Effect: Optimize Your Brain and Body by Boosting Your Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins
TJ Power presents a meta analysis of research of each of the individual neurotransmitters (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins) and the subsequent healing protocol he developed to address his own struggles with anxiety and depression based on the neuroscience.
How can we, as therapists, incorporate psychoeducation about neuroscience and body-based interventions to support healing for our clients?
Review released 05/08/26
Root & Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, and the Self
Becca Piastrelli calls out how disconnected we’ve become in the moder world and aims to help us find “home” by connecting with, finding belonging among, and integrating parts of ourselves via land, lineage, community, and Self.
How can we, as therapists, help our clients find healing through connection, belonging, and “home”?
Review to be released on 05/15/26
The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color
Natalie Y Gutiérrez, LMFT highlights the unique experience of trauma for people of color and provides a framework for healing with the Cultural Empowerment Approach, providing 4 empowerment steps and coordinated practices to encourage a shift from survival to healing to allow folks to show up as their truest Self.
How can we, as therapists, adapt our healing approaches to accommodate the experience of accumulated trauma when providing treatment to people of color?
Review to be released on 05/22/26
Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma