Books & Resources

Books I Love + Often Recommend

On Therapy

The Gift of Therapy — Irvin D. Yalom
Timeless wisdom from one of the most respected psychotherapists of our time.
Letters to a Young Therapist — Mary Pipher
Warm, thoughtful reflections on what it means to help others heal — and to grow alongside them.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone — Lori Gottlieb
A therapist’s honest look at the beauty and humor of healing.
On Becoming a Person — Carl Rogers
A timeless classic exploring what it means to grow, change, and live authentically through self-understanding.

Mind, Body & Trauma

The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk
How the body holds and heals trauma.
Women Who Run With the Wolves — Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Reconnecting with your instinctive, wild self.
It Didn’t Start With You — Mark Wolynn
Healing inherited family patterns.

Friendships

Conversations on Love — Natasha Lunn
A heartfelt exploration of love in all its forms.
Platonic — Marisa G. Franco
The science of building deep, lasting friendships.
The Other Significant Others — Rhaina Cohen
On the power of chosen family and platonic partnership.
Big Friendship — Aminatou Sow & Ann Friedman
The beauty and complexity of sustaining deep friendships.
Between Women — Susie Orbach
The tenderness and tension in women’s friendships.
The Friendship Cure — Kate Leaver
How connection heals loneliness and strengthens us.

On Grief

When Breath Becomes Air — Paul Kalanithi
A profoundly moving reflection on purpose, love, and what it means to live fully.
Walking Each Other Home — Ram Dass & Mirabai Bush
A spiritual conversation about dying consciously and loving deeply.
On Grief and Grieving — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross & David Kessler
A compassionate guide through loss and the process of healing.
Living Beautifully — Pema Chödrön
Practical wisdom for meeting impermanence with grace.
In Love — Amy Bloom
A tender memoir about choice, devotion, and saying goodbye with love.
The Wild Edge of Sorrow — Francis Weller
A poetic and soulful exploration of grief as a communal and transformative experience, offering rituals and reflections for healing.

Parenting

Good Inside — Dr. Becky Kennedy
Favorite parenting book. Grounded, empowering strategies for raising confident kids — and staying regulated as a parent.
The Conscious Parent — Dr. Shefali Tsabary
A spiritual and psychological approach to parenting that centers self-growth and mindful presence.
The Whole-Brain Child — Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
A clear, compassionate guide to understanding your child’s developing brain and responding with calm, connection, and curiosity.
Parenting from the Inside Out — Daniel J. Siegel & Mary Hartzell
Explores how your own childhood experiences shape your parenting style — and how self-awareness leads to deeper connection.

Healing, Self-Compassion & Growth

Radical Acceptance — Tara Brach
Meeting yourself with compassion and presence.
Seeking Peace — Mary Pipher
A tender memoir about resilience and meaning.
When Things Fall Apart — Pema Chödrön
Staying open through change and uncertainty.
Self-Compassion — Kristin Neff
The science and practice of being kind to yourself.
No Bad Parts — Richard Schwartz
Understanding and caring for every part of yourself.
The Gifts of Imperfection — Brené Brown
Encouragement to let go of perfectionism and live with more self-compassion.
We Can Do Hard Things — Glennon Doyle
A raw and hopeful reminder that healing, love, and growth often begin in the hardest moments.

Love, Attachment & Relationships

Attached — Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
Understanding your attachment style in love.
The Art of Loving — Erich Fromm
Love as an intentional, mindful practice.

Healing After Divorce/breakup

Necessary Losses — Judith Viorst
A wise and compassionate look at how love and loss shape our emotional lives.
Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy — Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant
A moving exploration of grief, resilience, and rediscovering hope.
How to Survive the Loss of a Love — Melba Colgrove, Harold Bloomfield & Peter McWilliams
A comforting, timeless guide to navigating heartbreak and emotional loss.
When Things Fall Apart — Pema Chödrön
Staying grounded through endings, grief, and uncertainty.

For Couples

Getting the Love You Want — Harville Hendrix
A timeless book for couples to deepen connection & uncover the hidden dynamics behind conflict.

Mating in Captivity — Esther Perel
A modern classic on sustaining desire and connection in long-term relationships.
Hold Me Tight — Dr. Sue Johnson
A compassionate guide to building secure, loving bonds.
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work — John Gottman
Research-based wisdom on communication and emotional connection.
Committed — Elizabeth Gilbert
A thoughtful exploration of partnership, freedom, and commitment.

Therapy is one part of your healing journey — these resources can help you deepen your process between sessions.

Crisis Support

If you’re in crisis or need immediate support, please reach out to one of the following:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988
Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741
Los Angeles County Mental Health Line — (800) 854-7771
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth) — call 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
National Domestic Violence Hotline — call 800-799-7233 or chat via thehotline.org

If you are in danger, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Mindfulness & Nervous System Regulation

Headspace
A user-friendly meditation & mindfulness app with hundreds of guided sessions, sleep sounds, and stress-relief tools.
Insight Timer
Free library of over 250,000 guided meditations and music tracks, great for sleep, anxiety, nervous system regulation.
Happier
Formerly 10% Happier. Meditation app with personalized courses and guided routines.
Tara Brach Meditations
Compassion-based meditations and talks on self-acceptance and emotional healing.
Jack Kornfield Meditations
Heart-centered Buddhist psychology practices for mindfulness and loving-kindness.

Podcasts

Dear Therapists — Lori Gottlieb & Guy Winch
Real sessions and actionable insights from two seasoned therapists helping people navigate life’s hardest moments. A favorite!
Dear Sugars — Cheryl Strayed & Steve Almond
Empathic, heart-opening advice for the messy, beautiful complexity of being human.
Reimagining Love — Dr. Alexandra Solomon
Grounded, relational wisdom on intimacy, repair, and conscious communication.
We Can Do Hard Things — Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach & Amanda Doyle
Honest, deeply human conversations about love, resilience, and becoming who we are.
Where Should We Begin? — Esther Perel
Intimate real-life therapy sessions exploring communication, trust, and desire.
Good Inside with Dr. Becky — Dr. Becky Kennedy
Emotionally grounded advice for parents (and anyone reparenting themselves).
Unlocking Us — Brené Brown
Honest conversations about courage, vulnerability, and connection.
Ten Percent Happier — Dan Harris
Accessible insights into meditation, mindfulness, and staying grounded in real life.

Reflection & Journaling

Let’s get started.