Books and Websites
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
Carl Jung
As this quote from the famous analyst Carl Jung implies, healing is not just an absence of symptoms, but rather a process of learning to be fully alive, embracing both the joy and pain and being able to stay whole in the midst of it. Here are some resources that I and my clients have found meaningful and helpful.
Addiction
“In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction” by Gabor Maté
“Gods and Diseases: Making Sense of our Physical and Mental Well Being” by David Tacey
“Escape from Intimacy: Untangling the Love Addictions: Sex, Romance, Relationships” by Anne Wilson Schaeff
Depression
“The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression” by Andrew Solomon
Career Exploration
Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity by David Whyte
Creativity and Creative Blocks
“Spirit Taking Form: Making a Spiritual Practice of Making Art” by Nancy Azara
“The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity” by Julia Cameron
“The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life” by Twyla Tharp
“Living the Writer’s Life: A Complete Self Help Guide” by Eric Maisel
Sexuality
“Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good” by adrienne maree brown
“Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science that will Transform your Sex Life” by Emily Nagoski
Spirituality
“Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
“Jailbreaking the Goddess: A Radical Revisioning of Feminist Spirituality” by Lasara Firefox Allen
“The Road Less Travelled: Spiritual Growth in an Age of Anxiety” by M. Scott Peck
“A Religion of One’s Own” by Thomas Moore
Relationships
“How to be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving” by David Richo
“How to be an Adult in Love” by David Richo
“Wired for Love” by Stan Tatkin
“After the Honeymoon: How Conflict can Improve Your Relationship” by Daniel Wile
Somatics and Trauma Treatment
“The Politics of Trauma: Somatics, Healing and Social Justice” by Staci K. Haines
“The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessel van der Kolk
“Body Centered Psychotherapy: The Hakomi Method” by Ron Kurtz
“Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body” by Peter Levine
“My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Politics” by Resmaa Menakem
Adult Development
“The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom” by Angeles Arrien
“Radical Responsibility: How to Move Beyond Blame, Fearlessly Live Your Highest Purpose, and Become an Unstoppable Force for Good” by Fleet Maull
“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck