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?

 
 

No new reviews released 07/04/25

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy 4th! There will be no new book review released this week. Enjoy the summer fun and celebrations and catch up on your reading!

 

Scheduled to release 07/11/25

Shift: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don’t Manage You

Ethan Kross, PhD, explores the research to help identify a working definition of emotions—painting the picture of what they are, why we have them, and how to harness them through the use of internal emotional shifters and the mindful choice of how we interact with external forces. How do we, as therapists, help our clients understand the value of emotions and the cultivation of skills for healthy emotional regulation?

 

Scheduled to release on 07/18/25

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson

A fun summer and self-care read, this novel exemplifies insecure attachment, generational trauma, the effects of being misaligned with our sense of self, and a perfectly imperfect family system held together by love and secrets, lies, and betrayals; and is ultimately tied up in a happily-ever-after bow that provides a resolution that highlights both the positive and negative consequences of misguided choices/mistakes. How do we, as therapists, support our clients to heal from the negative effects of trauma or mistakes of previous generations?

 
 

Scheduled to release on 07/25/25

Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood

Lisa Damour, PhD, helps establish a blueprint by “untangling” many of the facets of the developmental trajectory of adolescent girls by clarifying 7 strands of development to help parents and caregivers better understand this process and how they can effectively guide their daughters through this transformation. How can we, as therapists, support a safe and healthy transition for the current generation of adolescent girls (whether or not we are working directly with them)?