On My Bookshelf
As an avid writer, believer in people and therapist dedicated to learning more about our unique human experiences, it’s no surprise I LOVE to read. I’m going to share some favorite books over time in this journal for you — old favorites or new finds as I discover them. I hope you’ll dive into some of these to explore for yourself. Reading is a great supplement to the work we do in therapy. Here are three recommendations to get you started. Join me!
Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lisa TerKeurst
Amazon summary (click here for listing):
“You deserve to stop suffering because of what other people have done to you.
Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of unresolved pain, playing offenses over and over in your mind? You know you can't go on like this, but you don't know what to do next. Lysa TerKeurst has wrestled through this journey. But in surprising ways, she’s discovered how to let go of bound-up resentment and overcome the resistance to forgiving people who aren’t willing to make things right.”
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Amazon summary (click here for listing):
“Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.”
Love Does by Bob Goff
Amazon summary (click here for listing):
“Can a simple concept shift your entire world? Bob certainty thinks so. When it comes to loving your neighbors, rather than focusing on having the "right answers" or checking the "right boxes," what if you decide to simply DO love? To shamelessly show love and grace to those around you? What would that look like? It might look like spending sixteen days in the Pacific Ocean with five guys and a crate of canned meat. It might look like taking your kids on a world tour to eat ice cream with heads of state. It might look like taking a road trip with a stressed-out college student--even though you just got married a few days before. In Love Does, Bob shows you how to live a fully engaged life; how to stop putting things off until “next time” and instead find your place of imagination, whimsy, and wonder today; and that God usually chooses ordinary people to get things done. When love does, life gets interesting. Light and fun, unique and profound, the lessons drawn from Bob's life and attitude in this collection of stories just might inspire you to be secretly incredible, too.”
