booktok (Therapy Version)

Fair warning: If you tell me in our first session that you enjoy reading, I will ask what you like to read and proceed to share book recommendations. I love to read all the genres (historical fiction, romantasy, rom-coms, contemporary fiction, thrillers, memoirs, etc. etc. etc.), and hence the name I chose for my practice.

Let’s Be Honest: The Self-Help Genre Can Be... A Lot

If we’re being honest, the self-help genre can be pretty toxic—or at least, it can lean that way. So many books promise a quick fix, promote toxic positivity, or shame people for having very real human struggles.

That said, there are some gems out there. Over the years, I’ve found a handful of books that are thoughtful, grounded, and genuinely supportive—not just for me, but for many of my clients too. These are the books I reach for again and again in sessions, and the ones I often recommend when you’re looking for something to read between therapy appointments.

Mental Health Adjacent:

  • Untamed by Glennon Doyle — This generation’s feminist manifesto.

  • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, PhD, MSW — Rewiring shame 101.

  • Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski, PhD and Amelia Nagoski, DMA — Tangible tips for metabolizing the stress our bodies hold.

  • Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin, MD — Countering the commercialization of self-care with sustainable strategies.

  • Attached by Amir Levine, MD and Rachel Heller, MA — Attachment theory 101

  • Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister — Does the news have you raging? Same. Women’s anger is revolutionary. Let it fuel you into action.

Grief and Loss:

  • It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine — Hands down the best grief book I’ve ever read. There’s a companion journal if you’re into that stuff.

  • The In-Between by Hadley Vlahos, RN — Fascinating stories about the end of life written by a hospice nurse.

  • Always a Sibling by Annie Sklaver Orenstein — I often hear from clients who have lost a sibling that their grief is overlooked. Many have found solace in this book.

Sex and Intimacy:

  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, PhD — Sex education 101. Seriously, this is a must read for anyone struggling with sex, intimacy, mismatched libidos, low desire, shame, or sexual trauma. There’s a companion journal for this one too.

  • Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel — Sex education 201. Intimacy does not equal passion.

  • The State of Affairs by Esther Perel — for a non-judgmental look at infidelity that challenges the way we think about trust, desire, and commitment

Parenting Stuff:

  • Fair Play by Eve Rodsky — Tangible tools for identifying, communicating about, and realigning the division of labor (invisible too) in your household.

  • Emotional Labor by Rose Hackman — Guess what, emotional labor is often unequally distributed too.

  • Mom Rage by Minna Dubin — Shines a light on a common emotion, wrapped up in shame, and packaged by the patriarchy.

  • Releasing the Motherload by Erica Djossa — A good overview of all things motherhood.

  • The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt — How too little oversight in the virtual world and too much oversight in real world have contributed to the youth mental health crisis, and what to do about it.

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