Recommended reading
Recommended reading
These are a few books that have stayed with me, changed how I think, or helped me understand something differently. Some are directly related to trauma and healing; others have simply offered a different way of seeing ourselves or the world around us.
They aren’t assigned reading, and you certainly don’t need to read any of them before beginning therapy.
Books
A few that have stayed with me
The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk
This was the first book that helped me understand that what we experience — and how we survive it — can leave tangible effects and unintentionally become part of who we are.
The Myth of Normal
Gabor Maté with Daniel Maté
This book helped me understand that trauma is not defined only by what happened, but by how we experienced and adapted to it. It also challenged me to consider how some of what we accept as normal in modern life may pull us away from connection, health, and wellbeing.
Educated
Tara Westover
What stayed with me was how much of what she experienced initially seemed normal to her, and how only later did she begin to understand its impact.
Braiding Sweetgrass
Robin Wall Kimmerer
This book reminded me that wisdom can come from many places, and of the importance of remaining open to ways of knowing that may be unfamiliar to us.
If you are not ready yet
Reading is a reasonable place to begin
You don’t have to be ready for therapy to begin understanding yourself differently. Reading can offer language for experiences that have been difficult to name, introduce new ways of thinking about what happened, or simply help you feel less alone in what you are experiencing.
There is no expectation that reading has to lead to therapy.
Something I should read?
Some of the best books find us through other people.
If there is one you think I should know about, you’re welcome to send me the title.