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, addictions, 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 review scheduled to release 04/03/25

Spring Break!

Happy Spring! There will be no new book review released this week. Enjoy the break, the warmer weather, and catch up on your reading!

 

Scheduled to release 04/11/25

Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating A Sober Life You Love

Amanda E White, LPC has created a very informative book to help the reader evaluate their relationship with alcohol in the format of a novel that is fun to read and therefore more accessible. By expanding the definition of “sobriety” or “recovery” the reader is encouraged to make an informed choice about the role of alcohol in their life. How can we, as therapists, titrate our approach to challenging topics with our clients to make it more accessible to address them?

 

Scheduled to release 04/18/25

How to Change Your Mind: What the new Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

Michael Pollan, a journalist, explores the historical trajectory leading up to the recent Renaissance of researching the use of psychedelic molecules associated with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin as accepted modes of treatment for psychological disorders. As research and psychedelic-assisted treatments experience a resurgence in the clinical field, as a therapist, do you find yourself in support of or resistant to this methodology?

 

Scheduled to release on 04/25/25

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. How We Can Learn to Fulfill Our Potential

Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D psychologist describes her theory about the impact of our mindset: a fixed mindset is a rigid belief that skillsets related to intelligence, talent, abilities, etc., are fixed; whereas a growth mindset is flexible, adaptable, and embraces effort in the development of abilities. How can we, as therapists, provide our clients with the resources they need to cultivate a mindset that will allow them to thrive?