My Favorite Books to Recommend to Friends and Clients

I find myself recommending the safe books to friends and clients over and over again so I thought I’d create an easy list to share with you. If you are looking for a new book to read, you’ve come to the right place. Happy reading!

*These links are affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission on purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
by Lori Gottlieb
If you read just one book from this list, please read this one. Why? Because it happens to be my favorite books of all time. Gottlieb weaves her own experience of being in therapy with stories of her work with her psychotherapy clients to create an inspiring and illuminating insight into the human experience. I loved every page of it and I can’t recommend it enough! Whether you are a therapist, someone who is in therapy right now, someone who is considering therapy, or someone who just likes a good memoir, this book is for you.
Perfect for: If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in therapy or if you enjoy stories about the human experience.

Safe People: How to Find Relationships that are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren’t
by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
I also picked up this book at the recommendation of another therapist and it quickly became one of my most recommended books to my clients. The authors, who also wrote the excellent “Boundaries” series, shine light on the reasons why some people find themselves unhappy in all types of relationships over and over again. They also provide helpful step-by-step guidance for growing in self-awareness, learning to recognize healthy relationships from unhealthy ones, and using practical tips for forming healthy relationships.
Perfect for: If you’ve noticed some unhealthy relationship patterns and want to deepen your understanding and empower yourself to make positive changes.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, & Body in the Healing of Trauma
by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
I never cease to be amazed at how intricate and strong the human body and brain is. I picked this book up after a fellow therapist recommended it for a mini-bookclub and after the first few pages, I was hooked. The author explains how our bodies experience and cope with trauma from a biological perspective and how this differs from how many health professionals currently approach treating trauma. For example, many professionals primarily use traditional talk therapy to address trauma which is an important but incomplete treatment approach. The body actually stores some experiences of trauma in a non-verbal way and thus requires a different form of treatment. This is an incredibly fascinating read and is considered one of the best books on trauma and healing in the field.
Perfect for: If you are interested in learning more about trauma, are interested in learning more about how amazing our brains and bodies are, or if you want to learn more about how the world of psychology and psychiatry is changing.

Embracing Weakness: The Unlikely Secret to Changing the World
by Shannon K. Evans
Shannon’s book challenges the belief that we have to be perfect in order to do good in the world. She shares her own experiences as a missionary and how her feeling of needing to be the “perfect” Christian actually got in the way of authentically connecting with others. She explains how embracing our weaknesses can actually bring us closer to God and can help us serve others on a deeper and more meaningful level. I dog-eared more than half of the pages in this book because she gave me so much to think about.
Perfect for: If you’re trying to be less of a perfectionist or if you are going through a difficult season in life.

The Heart of Perfection: How the Saints Taught Me to Trade My Dream of Perfect for God’s
by Colleen Carroll Campbell
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the saints were superhuman and rarely struggled with the things that we do but this book offers a surprising and unexpected take on their lives. Campbell weaves her own struggles with perfectionism with those of the saints like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Frances de Sales, St. Ignatius, and St. Therese of Lisieux who overcame similar struggles. Not only is it eye-opening to read how the saints struggled but it’s also very inspiring.
Perfect for: If you are struggling with perfectionism or just want to learn more about the “humanness” of the saints.

Beyond Boundaries: Learning to Trust Again in Relationships
by John Townsend
I often recommend the classic book on Boundaries by the same author but this one answers the all important question of “How do I form healthy relationships going forward?” after you’ve put in the time and effort to break down and understand what healthy boundaries are. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to set the stage for healthy and fulfilling relationships.
Perfect for: If you want to dive deeper into boundaries and how to seamlessly integrate them into your daily life.