2024 Therapy Book Review
Like most therapists, I have a long list of books I want to read and most of them stay on my “To Be Read” list. However, this year I have really gotten into audiobooks and have found it easier to read (or rather listen) to more books. While I love listening to non-therapy books, my achiever part of me loves learning so I will read a few “therapy books” every year. Below is a list of books that I read this year that may be relevant. You’ll notice a theme among these books….. ahem, family trauma. Something that a lot of my clients uncover through our work together or enter therapy already knowing that they have experienced. If you are looking to supplement your therapy work or want to learn more about common topics in therapy with me, check out my reviews of these books to see if any sound good to you!
It's important to know that these book reviews are my own, so take them with a grain of salt!
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to heal from distant, rejecting, or self-involved parents by Lindsay Gibson
Think of this book as a warm hug that envelops you and validates everything you have experienced. Lindsay Gibson does a phenomenal job of naming the lived experience of being an adult child of emotionally immature parents. She puts into words experiences you may have had but not been able to verbalize. This book covers what emotionally mature and immature parents do and how adult children cope. She also gives practical strategies you can use when dealing with emotionally immature parents. I highly recommend this book to anyone who felt lonely in their family growing up and may struggle in their relationships with their parents.
Disentangling From Emotionally Immature People by Lindsay Gibson
Yes, yes, yes!! This book builds on the previous book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, and takes it to a whole new level. Think of the first book as creating insight and validating your experiences within your family and this book as the key as to why you might still be feeling “stuck” in your relationships with your family and what to do about it. Lindsay Gibson effortlessly and beautifully points out ways in which we might still be engaging in unhealthy patterns with our family. She gently challenges the reader to look at their part such as constantly wishing for things to be different, replaying scenarios over and over in our head, or looking for needs to be met by people who have shown us that they can’t meet our needs. By learning how we are still suck or “entangled” with emotionally immature people, we are able to create healthier relationships with authenticity. This is a book that I will no doubt re-read and probably learn something new every time.
Drama Free: A guide to managing unhealthy family relationships by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Nedra Glover Tawwab is the QUEEN of boundaries. I recommend her first book, Set Boundaries, to anyone who is new to setting boundaries. This book is easy to read and she gives practical solutions on how to manage unhealthy family dynamics. I will say, that I wish there was more depth and nuance to her first book and this one. The writing and advice/solutions feel a little simplistic and don’t really capture the difficulty in setting boundaries that I hear from most of my clients. That being said, if you want an easy read and to gain insight into how to exist within a toxic family system, this is one to check out!
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
No. Just no. I had high hopes for this book as I love a good cuss word (even in session) and remember the hype about this book when it first came out. However, I was pretty disappointed in this book. It felt like a 21-year-old man mansplaining to me for several hours. Not much else to say about this one (eek!).
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, illness, and healing in a toxic culture by Daniel Mate and Gabor Mate
This book was on the NY Times Best Seller list for weeks and I can see why. I placed a hold on this book through my local library and waited several months before it became available. And the wait was worth it. Daniel and Gabor Mate discuss how trauma is literally at the root of everything. My favorite chapter was on authenticity versus attachment, where the authors talk about folks who have had to choose attachment over being authentic in their relationships. This chapter highlighted for me ways in which I have not been my authentic self in some of my relationships. Highly recommend!
Go Beyond the Self-Help Books with Therapy for High-Achieving Women in Austin, TX
Have you read self-help books and followed mental health accounts on Instagram but are left needing more support? Dr. Molly Moore is a licensed psychologist in Austin, TX who specializes in working with high-achieving women who experience anxiety, imposter syndrome, and burnout. Not in Austin, no problem! All services are provided online. Reach out today to get started!