I am sharing books that have been helpful in my own healing, recovery, and discovery. Our emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being is shaped by many influences - from our personal experiences and family histories to societal pressures and evolving scientific discoveries. The following selection of books offers insights into mental health, trauma, healing, and the transformative potential of therapy, connection, and self-understanding. Each work has been chosen for its ability to illuminate the mind–body connection, provide practical strategies for growth and resilience, and inspire reflection on the ways we can cultivate balance, meaning, and emotional well-being in our lives. If you are curious about the science and art of healing, these readings may provide a compassionate guide on your journey.

Books I love…

Billups, T. (2020) – Animal Soul Contracts: Sacred Agreements for Shared Evolution
A compassionate and spiritually insightful exploration of the deep emotional and energetic bonds between humans and animals. Billups introduces the concept of “soul contracts” - sacred agreements made before birth that guide the lessons and healing both species experience together. Through moving stories and reflective exercises, she reveals how our relationships with animals can mirror, heal, and evolve our own emotional patterns and soul growth.

Brown, B. (2012) – Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
A transformative exploration of the power of vulnerability and courage. Brown examines how embracing vulnerability allows individuals to build deeper connections, foster creativity, and lead with authenticity. This book provides practical insights and strategies to overcome shame, fear, and self-doubt while cultivating resilience and wholehearted living.

Brown, B. (2021) – Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
A deeply insightful exploration of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. Brown provides a clear, accessible language for understanding feelings, navigating relationships, and cultivating meaningful connection, offering practical guidance for empathy, resilience, and emotional literacy.

Atlas, G. (2022) – Emotional Inheritance: A Therapist, Her Patients, and the Legacy of Trauma
A compelling exploration of how unspoken family histories and generational trauma shape our emotional lives. Atlas intertwines her patients' stories with her own experiences to illuminate the profound impact of inherited emotional legacies and offers insights into healing and transformation.

David, S. (2016) – Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life
A practical guide to understanding and managing emotions with flexibility and insight. David provides strategies to face challenges, adapt to change, and align actions with values, empowering readers to live more fully and authentically.

Firestone, T. (2016) – Wounds into Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Trauma
A profound and compassionate exploration of intergenerational and personal trauma, offering practical guidance for transforming emotional wounds into growth, resilience, and spiritual insight.

Grof, S. (2019) – The Way of the Psychonaut: Encyclopedia for Inner Journeys Volumes 1 & 2
A comprehensive exploration of the human psyche and spiritual quest, drawing from Grof's extensive research in psychedelic therapy and Holotropic Breathwork. This two-volume set delves into topics such as maps of the psyche, birth, death, trauma, spiritual emergency, and transpersonal experiences, offering profound insights into the inner journey.

Haidt, J. (2023) – The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide
An insightful exploration of the impact of smartphones and social media on adolescent mental health. Haidt examines how screen-based childhood experiences, overprotective parenting, and societal pressures contribute to rising anxiety and depression, while offering strategies to foster resilience and healthy development.

Haidt, J., & Lukianoff, G. (2018) – The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
An exploration of how overprotective parenting, “safetyism,” and the rise of social media have contributed to increased anxiety, depression, and fragility among young adults. Haidt and Lukianoff provide insights into promoting resilience, critical thinking, and mental well-being in the modern world.

Holland, J. (2020) – Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection from Soul to Psychedelics
A psychiatrist and psychedelic researcher explores the science of connection—why we need it, how we've lost it, and how we might find it again. Holland delves into the role of oxytocin in fostering trust and bonding, and examines how psychedelics, meditation, and community can help us reconnect with ourselves and others.

Lembke, A. (2021) – Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
A compelling examination of how the pursuit of pleasure can lead to pain, and how understanding the brain's reward system can help individuals find balance in an overstimulated world.

LePera, N. (2021) – How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self
A practical guide introducing a holistic approach to healing, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. Drawing from her experience as a clinical psychologist, LePera presents a self-healing methodology that empowers individuals to recognize and transform patterns rooted in past trauma, fostering a more authentic and joyful life.

McDaniel, K. (2018) – Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection, and Guidance
A compassionate guide for adult daughters navigating the effects of emotional neglect or absence in their relationships with their mothers. McDaniel explores the deep, often unrecognized wounds caused by unmet maternal needs and provides strategies for understanding, healing, and creating a more nurturing inner life.

Maté, G. (2019) – Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder
A compassionate and insightful look at ADHD, exploring how early life experiences shape attention, emotion, and self-regulation — and how understanding these roots can open the path to healing and self-acceptance.

Maté, G. (2022) – The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
A powerful exploration of how modern society’s pressures and disconnection contribute to illness and dysfunction — and how reclaiming authenticity, compassion, and connection can restore both personal and collective health.

Maté, G. (2019) – When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress
A powerful exploration of the mind–body connection, revealing how suppressed emotions and chronic stress can manifest as physical illness — and how awareness, compassion, and emotional honesty can lead to healing.

Miller, R. L. (2017) – Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca
A comprehensive exploration of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, featuring interviews with leading researchers and practitioners in the field. Miller discusses the history, science, and future of psychedelic medicine, highlighting its applications in treating various mental health conditions.

Noffsinger, D. R., & Halpern, C. H. (2021) – A Dose of Hope: A Story of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy
An illuminating exploration of the healing potential of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, blending science, storytelling, and compassion to reveal new pathways for treating trauma, depression, and emotional pain.

Orenstein, P. (2011) – Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture
A critical look at the commercialization of girlhood, focusing on the proliferation of princess culture and its impact on young girls' self-image and aspirations.

Orenstein, P. (2016) – Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape
A comprehensive study on how modern girls understand and experience sexuality, emphasizing the importance of pleasure, consent, and communication.

Orenstein, P. (2018) – Don't Call Me Princess: Essays on Girls, Women, Sex, and Life
A collection of essays exploring various facets of female identity, sexuality, and the societal expectations placed upon women.

Other, A. (2017) – Trust Surrender Receive: How MDMA Can Release Us from Trauma and PTSD
A compelling examination of how MDMA-assisted therapy can facilitate healing from trauma and PTSD. Through firsthand accounts and scientific insights, Other explores the transformative potential of this approach in releasing deeply held emotional wounds.

Perel, E. (2006) – Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
A bold and thought-provoking examination of the tension between domesticity and desire, revealing how couples can sustain passion, playfulness, and erotic vitality within long-term relationships.

Pollan, M. (2018) – How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
A deeply researched and accessible look at the renaissance of psychedelic therapy, exploring how substances like psilocybin and LSD are reshaping our understanding of consciousness, healing, and mental well-being.

Schwartz, R. (2021) – No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
An accessible and transformative guide to Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which helps individuals understand and integrate the many “parts” of the self. Schwartz explains how every part, even those that seem destructive or negative, has a valuable role, and offers practical guidance for healing trauma, resolving internal conflict, and cultivating inner harmony.

Traister, C. (2018) – Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger
An insightful examination of how women’s anger has been dismissed, silenced, or stigmatized throughout history and in contemporary society. Traister argues that women’s anger is a powerful tool for social change and personal empowerment, exploring its political, cultural, and psychological dimensions while offering a guide for harnessing it constructively.

Weller, F. (2015) – The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief
A deeply moving exploration of grief and how embracing sorrow can lead to personal and communal healing. Weller presents grief as a vital, transformative force and offers rituals, reflections, and practices to help individuals navigate loss, connect to their emotions, and engage with life more fully and authentically.

Wolynn, M. (2016) – It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle
A groundbreaking exploration of intergenerational trauma and its effects on our emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Wolynn explains how trauma can be passed down through families and provides tools and exercises to identify inherited patterns, release old wounds, and create lasting emotional healing.