75 Must-Read Books for Therapists

75+ must-read books (including workbooks and textbooks) for mental health professionals and self-help

This is a list of 75+ “must-read” books for therapists and other mental health professionals.

For additional books and tools for therapists, see Resources for Mental Health Professionals and Group Therapy Resource Guide.


Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Must-Read Books for You & Your Clients

250 Brief, Creative & Practical Art Therapy Techniques: A Guide for Clinicians & Clients (2017)

These unique 250 art exercises increase self-esteem, self-awareness and a feeling of success in artistic expression and communication, allowing clients to engage in therapeutic exercises without judgment. Using simple materials like paper, pencils and markers, these techniques can be immediately implemented in your practice.

Addictive Relationships: Why Love Goes Wrong in Recovery (1993)

Using a generous mix of humor and self-disclosure, Gorski describes different levels at which relationships operate. He explains seven characteristics of addictive intimacy and why they feel so good in the short run and hurt so badly in the long run. He gives hope by describing characteristics of healthy intimacy and provides guidelines for relationship building and transforming in recovery.

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment & How It Can Help You Find – & Keep – Love (2012)

Attached guides readers in determining what attachment style they and their mate (or potential mate) follow, offering a road map for building stronger, more fulfilling connections with the people they love.

Betrayal Trauma: The Logic of Forgetting Childhood Abuse (1998)

This book lays bare the logic of forgotten abuse. Psychologist Jennifer Freyd’s breakthrough theory explaining this phenomenon shows how psychogenic amnesia not only happens but, if the abuse occurred at the hands of a parent or caregiver, is often necessary for survival. Freyd’s book will give embattled professionals, beleaguered abuse survivors, and the confused public a new, clear understanding of the lifelong effects and treatment of child abuse.

Beyond Addiction: How Science & Kindness Help People Change (2014)

Beyond Addiction goes beyond the theatrics of interventions and tough love to show family and friends how they can use kindness, positive reinforcement, and motivational and behavioral strategies to help someone change. Drawing on forty collective years of research and decades of clinical experience, the authors present the best practical advice science has to offer.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, & Body in the Healing of Trauma (2015)

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.

The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia: Helping Your Loved One Get the Most Out of Life (2006)

Will the person you love ever get better? Chances are you’ve grappled with the question. With care and support from their families, people with schizophrenia can and do make vast improvements. Noted therapists Kim Mueser and Susan Gingerich deepen your understanding of the illness and cover a wide range of effective treatments. Based on decades of research and experience, they offer pragmatic suggestions for dealing with depression, psychosis, and other symptoms. They show you how to prioritize needs, resolve everyday problems, and encourage your loved one to set life goals. Plus, individual sections highlight special issues for parents, children, siblings, and partners. Whether you’re facing schizophrenia for the first time or you’ve dealt with its impact for years, you’ll discover innovative ways to handle challenges that arise over the course of treatment, from reducing the chances of relapse to making friends and finding work. Recovery isn’t an endpoint–it’s a lifelong journey. With love, hope, and realistic optimism, striving for it can lead to a richer, more rewarding life for your entire family.

Drinking: A Love Story (1997)

It was love at first sight. The beads of moisture on a chilled bottle. The way the glasses clinked and the conversation flowed. Then it became obsession. The way she hid her bottles behind her lover’s refrigerator. The way she slipped from the dinner table to the bathroom, from work to the bar. And then, like so many love stories, it fell apart. Drinking is Caroline Kapp’s harrowing chronicle of her twenty-year love affair with alcohol.

Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness & Wellbeing (2012)

Flourish builds on Dr. Seligman’s game-changing work on optimism, motivation, and character to show how to get the most out of life, unveiling an electrifying new theory of what makes a good life—for individuals, for communities, and for nations. In a fascinating evolution of thought and practice, Flourish refines what Positive Psychology is all about.

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) (1997)

In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be & Embrace Who You Are (2022)

What transforms this book from words on a page to effective daily practices are the ten guideposts to wholehearted living. The guideposts not only help us understand the practices that will allow us to change our lives and families, they also walk us through the unattainable and sabotaging expectations that get in the way.

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love (2008)

The message of Hold Me Tight is simple: Forget about learning how to argue better, analyzing your early childhood, making grand romantic gestures, or experimenting with new sexual positions. Instead, get to the emotional underpinnings of your relationship by recognizing that you are emotionally attached to and dependent on your partner in much the same way that a child is on a parent for nurturing, soothing, and protection. Dr. Johnson teaches that the way to enhance or save a relationship is to be open, attuned, and responsive to each other and to reestablish emotional connection.

How to Heal Depression (1994)

How to Heal Depression clears up misconceptions about mental depression, and describes symptoms and treatments.

How to Survive the Loss of a Love (1992)

One of the most directly helpful books on the subject of loss ever written, the first edition of this comforting and inspiring book, published in 1976, sold nearly two million copies. This completely revised and expanded edition encompasses not only the medical and psychological advances in the treatment of loss, but also the authors’ own experiences.

Lost in the Mirror: An Inside Look at Borderline Personality Disorder, 2nd Edition (2001)

Borderline personality disorder accounts for almost 25 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations in this country. Lost in the Mirror takes readers behind the erratic behavior of this puzzling disorder, examining its underlying causes and revealing the unimaginable pain and fear beneath its surface.

The Mind-Gut Connection: How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choices, & Our Overall Health (2018)

Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with the latest discoveries on the human microbiome, a practical guide in the tradition of Wheat Belly and Grain Brain that conclusively demonstrates the inextricable, biological link between mind and body.

Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction (2014)

While many desperately need the help of the 12-step recovery program, the traditional AA model’s focus on an external higher power can alienate people who don’t connect with its religious tenets. Refuge Recovery is a systematic method based on Buddhist principles, which integrates scientific, non-theistic, and psychological insight.

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert (2015)

Packed with new exercises and the latest research out of the esteemed Gottman Institute, this revised edition of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential.

Staying Sober Without God: The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism & Addictions (2019)

Finally, a psychology-based approach to recovery that doesn’t require faith in a god or supernatural being. This book will guide you through a series of 12 steps designed to free you from the patterns that keep you stuck in your addictive cycle. These 12 steps are developed to be workable whether you are currently in a traditional 12-step program or not.

Surviving Schizophrenia, 7th Edition: A Family Manual (2019)

In clear language, this much-praised and important book describes the nature, causes, symptoms, treatment, and course of schizophrenia, and explores living with it from both the patient’s and the family’s point of view. This new, completely updated seventh edition includes the latest research findings on what causes the illness, as well as information about the newest drugs for treatment, and answers the questions most often asked by families, consumers, and providers.


Workbooks

The Addictions Recovery Workbook: 101 Practical Exercises for Individuals & Groups (2011)

This practical workbook is designed to be used to accompany a person or group in their addiction recovery process. Therefore, it is also recommended for counselors, clergy, sponsors, or anyone else serious about helping others. The workbook is unique in that it can be applied to any addiction, whether it be chemical dependency, sex, eating, spending, working, or gambling, just to name a few. It contains over 101 practical exercises and leaves no stone unturned in helping the workbook user uncover and deal with the issues they encounter while in recovery.

The Addiction Recovery Skills Workbook: Changing Addictive Behaviors Using CBT, Mindfulness, & Motivational Interviewing Techniques (2015)

If you struggle with addiction, seeking treatment is a powerful, positive first step toward eventual recovery. But gaining an understanding of the causes of addiction—such as feelings of helplessness or loss of control—is also crucial for recovery. In this book, addiction expert Suzette Glasner-Edwards offers evidence-based techniques fusing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based relapse prevention to help you move past your addictive behaviors.

The Addiction Recovery Workbook: Powerful Skills for Preventing Relapse Every Day (2018)

Get the tools you need to recover from alcoholism and other forms of addiction. This substance abuse workbook equips you with actionable strategies and coping techniques to succeed in recovery when faced with daily challenges, stressors, and triggers.

Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic & Histrionic Workbook: Treatment Strategies for Cluster B Personality Disorders (2015)

Developed from years of experience working with complex and challenging clients, Daniel Fox, PhD has created the ultimate workbook to effectively treat clients with antisocial, histrionic, narcissistic and borderline personality disorders.

The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, 7th Edition (2020)

Living with anxiety, panic disorders, or phobias can make you feel like you aren’t in control of your life. Tackle the fears that hold you back with this go-to guide. Packed with the most effective skills for assessing and treating anxiety, this evidence-based workbook contains the latest clinical research. You’ll find an arsenal of tools for quieting worry, ending negative self-talk, and taking charge of your anxious thoughts.

The Anxiety & Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution (2023)

Learn practical strategies for identifying anxiety triggers, challenging the thoughts and beliefs that lead to distress, safely facing feared situations, and truly loosening anxiety’s grip – one manageable step at a time. Updated throughout, the second edition includes evaluation exercises that help you get to know your anxiety; up-to-date information about panic attacks, social anxiety, and other topics; additional graphics; and new troubleshooting tips and tools for success.

The Attachment Theory Workbook: Powerful Tools to Promote Understanding, Increase Stability, & Build Lasting Relationships (2019)

Attachment theory explores the different ways we develop connections with others. If you’re searching for a way to create stronger, healthier, and more authentic relationships with the people you love, The Attachment Theory Workbook can help. It’s your guide to understanding your own attachment style and exploring actionable exercises to improve honesty, intimacy, and communication with your partner, family, or close friends.

Building Motivational Interviewing Skills, 2nd Edition: A Practitioner Workbook (Applications of Motivational Interviewing) (2017)

Many tens of thousands of mental health and health care professionals have used this essential book – now significantly revised with 70% new content reflecting important advances in the field – to develop and sharpen their skills in motivational interviewing (MI). Clear explanations of core MI concepts are accompanied by carefully crafted sample dialogues, exercises, and practice opportunities. Readers build proficiency for moving through the four processes of MI – engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning – using open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries (OARS), plus information exchange.

The CBT Toolbox, 2nd Edition: 185 Tools to Manage Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Behaviors & Stress (2021)

Designed for mental health clinicians, coaches, and clients alike, The CBT Toolbox is a go-to resource for addressing unhelpful thinking patterns and implementing practical, proven, action steps to achieve goals and live life more intentionally. Dr. Riggenbach is legendary for providing evidence-based strategies that actually work, all in the form of his signature “tools.”

The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety: A Step-By-Step Program (2014)

Anxiety and panic are intense emotions, and in the moments that you experience them it may seem like you are powerless, but nothing could be further from the truth. This workbook offers a practical program that you can use on your own, or with a therapist, to take back that power and conquer your anxiety.

The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step-by-Step Program (2012)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most widely used treatment for depression for one simple reason: it works. The CBT program in this workbook has helped thousands of readers defeat the depressive thoughts and beliefs that keep them from enjoying life and feeling like themselves. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression delivers evidence-based tools you can confidently use to start feeling better.

The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control & Becoming Whole (2017)

In The Complex PTSD Workbook, you’ll learn all about C-PTSD and gain valuable insight into the types of symptoms associated with unresolved childhood trauma. Take healing into your own hands while applying strategies to help integrate positive beliefs and behaviors.

DBT® Skills Training Handouts & Worksheets, 2nd Edition (2014)

Featuring more than 225 user-friendly handouts and worksheets, this is an essential resource for clients learning dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills, and those who treat them. All of the handouts and worksheets discussed in Marsha M. Linehan’s DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition, are provided, together with brief introductions to each module written expressly for clients. Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT has been demonstrated effective in treatment of a wide range of psychological and emotional problems. No single skills training program will include all of the handouts and worksheets in this book; clients get quick, easy access to the tools recommended to meet their particular needs.

DBT® Skills Training Manual, 2nd Edition (2014)

This comprehensive resource provides vital tools for implementing DBT skills training. The reproducible teaching notes, handouts, and worksheets used for over two decades by hundreds of thousands of practitioners have been significantly revised and expanded to reflect important research and clinical advances. The book gives complete instructions for orienting clients to DBT, plus teaching notes for the full range of mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance skills. 

The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living with Depression & Manic Depression, 2nd Edition (2002)

From the best-selling author, Mary Ellen Copeland, comes the Second Edition of The Depression Workbook. Learn to practice the latest research-based self-help strategies to relieve depression and address other mental health issues.

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, & Distress Tolerance (2019)

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, a collaborative effort from three esteemed authors, offers evidence-based, step-by-step exercises for learning these concepts and putting them to work for real and lasting change. Start by working on the introductory exercises and, after making progress, move on to the advanced-skills chapters. Whether you’re a mental health professional or a general reader, you’ll benefit from this clear and practical guide to better managing your emotions.

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anxiety: Breaking Free from Worry, Panic, PTSD, & Other Anxiety Symptoms (2011)

If you have an anxiety disorder or experience anxiety symptoms that interfere with your day-to-day life, you can benefit from learning four simple skills that therapists use with their clients. These easy-to-learn skills are at the heart of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a cutting-edge therapeutic approach that can help you better manage the panic attacks, worries, and fears that limit your life and keep you feeling stuck.

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for PTSD: Practical Exercises for Overcoming Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (2019)

With this powerful and proven-effective workbook, you’ll find practical exercises for overcoming trauma using mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. You’ll learn how to be present in the moment and identity the things that trigger your trauma. You’ll also find activities and exercises to help you cope with stress, manage intense emotions, navigate conflict with others, and change unhealthy thought patterns that keep you stuck. Finally, you’ll find practical materials for review and closure, so you can take what you’ve learned out into the world with you.

Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A Women’s Workbook (2000)

Trauma can turn your world upside down; afterward, nothing may look safe or familiar. And, if you are a woman, studies show that you are twice as likely than your male counterparts to suffer from the effects of a traumatic event sometime during your life. Whether the trauma is physical, sexual, or emotional, these events can overwhelm you, destroying your sense of being in control and altering your attachments to others. If left unaddressed, the resulting psychological trauma can lead you to a wide range of destructive symptoms like anxiety, depression, substance abuse, phobias, personality disorders, flashbacks, emotional numbing, and nightmares. This book offers proven-effective, step-by-step exercises you can use to work through and minimize the consequences of a traumatic event.

The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms, 3rd Edition (2016)

In The PTSD Workbook, Third Edition, psychologists and trauma experts Mary Beth Williams and Soili Poijula outline techniques and interventions used by PTSD experts from around the world to conquer distressing trauma-related symptoms. In this fully revised and updated workbook, you’ll learn how to move past the trauma you’ve experienced and manage symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and flashbacks.

The Relationship Skills Workbook: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to a Thriving Relationship (2014)

What are the ingredients of a successful and enduring relationship? Love, passion, and commitment are all vital―yet without certain basic skills, even the most devoted partners can find themselves descending into arguments, power struggles, and disillusionment. With The Relationship Skills Workbook, Dr. Julia Colwell presents a practical guide for building a conscious partnership based on cooperation and trust―offering relationship-saving techniques and on-the-spot conflict resolution tools for disarming the explosive clashes that most commonly break couples apart.

The Self-Esteem Workbook, 2nd Edition (2016)

With this second edition of The Self-Esteem Workbook, you’ll learn to see yourself through loving eyes by realizing that you are inherently worthy, and that comparison-based self-criticism is not a true measure of your value. In addition to new chapters on cultivating compassion, forgiveness, and unconditional love for yourself and others—all of which improve self-esteem—you’ll find cutting-edge information on brain plasticity and how sleep, exercise, and nutrition affect your self-esteem.

The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven, Step-by-Step Techniques for Overcoming Your Fear, 3rd Edition (2017)

If you are shy or socially anxious, you may dread going to parties, speaking in front of crowds or people you don’t know, going to job interviews, and other critical life situations. You aren’t alone. In fact, studies show that millions of people suffer from a social anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, you can’t hide from some social situations—no matter how much you wish you could. But you don’t have to go on suffering silently. The good news is there are proven-effective techniques you can start using right away to help ease your anxiety or shyness and start living the life you were meant to live: a life where fear doesn’t get in the way of reaching your goals.

The Wellness Lifestyle Workbook: Self-Assessments, Exercises & Educational Handouts (Mental Health & Life Skills Workbook Series) (2009)

Wellness and health are interrelated, but distinct concepts. Health is considered free from disease. Wellness is much more complex. Optimum wellness balances five basic dimensions: physical, career, emotional, social, and spiritual. In this wellness workbook you will find a wellness scale in each chapter, and wellness worksheets that are printable and reproducible. This wellness workbook, written for practitioners to use one-on-one or with groups, contains five sections to help participants learn more about themselves and their lifestyles. It also includes a bonus section on life skills.

The Wellness Workbook: How to Achieve Enduring Health & Vitality, 3rd Edition (2004)

For more than thirty years, John W. Travis, M.D., and Regina Sara Ryan have taught hundreds of thousands of people a practical whole-self approach to wellness and healthy living.

A Woman’s Addiction Workbook: Your Guide to In-Depth Healing (2002)

Harvard addiction and trauma expert Lisa M. Najavits offers this step-by-step program to help women overcome the often-overlooked problems associated with their drug and alcohol addictions, such as body image, trauma and violence, relationships, stress, and thrill-seeking. She explores how women differ from men in their addiction and recovery, and adapts this information to help you embark on your journey to healing. A chapter on co-occurring emotional problems allows you to evaluate whether you have any of the key disorders common among women with addiction, such as depression, post-traumatic stress, eating disorders, or phobias.


Textbooks

Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Community & Agency Settings, 5th Edition (2017)

Exercises in the Art of Helping, 3rd Edition (2004)

Family Therapy: An Overview, 9th Edition (2016)

Foundations of Addictions Counseling, 4th Edition (2019)

Learning the Art of Helping: Building Blocks & Techniques, 7th Edition (2020)

Theory & Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 10th Edition (2016)

The Theory & Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 6th Edition (2020)


PracticePlanners Series

The Addiction Treatment Planner, 6th Edition (2022)

Addiction Treatment Homework Planner, 6th Edition (2023)

The Complete Adult Psychotherapy Treatment Planner, 6th Edition (2021)

Adult Psychotherapy Homework Planner, 6th Edition (2021)

The Complete Anxiety Treatment & Homework Planner (2004)

The Complete Depression Treatment & Homework Planner (2004)

The Couples Psychotherapy Treatment Planner with DSM-5 Updates (2015)

Couples Therapy Homework Planner, 2nd Edition (2015)

The Crisis Counseling & Traumatic Events Treatment Planner with DSM-5 Updates, 2nd Edition (2014)

The Family Therapy Treatment Planner with DSM-5 Updates, 2nd Edition (2014)

The Personality Disorders Treatment Planner: Includes DSM-5 Updates, 2nd Edition (2016)

The Severe & Persistent Mental Illness Treatment Planner, 2nd Edition (2014)

The Suicide & Homicide Risk Assessment & Prevention Treatment Planner (2015)


Additional Reading

86 TIPS (Treatment Ideas & Practical Strategies) for the Therapeutic Toolbox (2006)

86 T.I.P.S. (Treatment Ideas and Practical Strategies) for the Therapeutic Toolbox features dozens of reproducible handouts, experiential activities, exercises, self-discovery tools and more. The topics covered are perfect for individual clients or in group therapy settings. Within the T.I.P.S. approach, each of the 86 activities, handouts or strategies is broken down even further into T.I.P.s (Theory, Implementation and Processing). This unique approach makes every TIP easy to understand and put to practice.

127 More Amazing Tips & Tools for the Therapeutic Toolbox (2013)

127 More Amazing Tips and Tools for the Therapeutic Toolbox is Judy Belmont’s third Tips and Tools book in PESI’s bestselling series that has offered thousands of clinicians practical “hands on” strategies to help clients reach therapeutic goals. Judy Belmont’s newest Tips and Tools addresses today’s evolving needs, using techniques from CBT, DBT and positive psychology to help their clients and their practice.

103 Group Activities & Treatment Ideas & Practical Strategies (2006)

Judith Belmont, M.S., has gathered this collection of T.I.P.S. (Treatment Ideas and Practical Strategies) from more than 30 years of clinical experience coupled with her passion for “hands-on” mental wellness education. These are straightforward and universally relevant “how to” exercises and all the TIPS are geared to helping participants take a proactive approach – and experience change, not just talk about it. Within the T.I.P.S. approach, each of the 103 activities, handouts or strategies is broken down even further – into T.I.P.s (Theory, Implementation and Processing). This unique approach makes every TIP easy to understand and put to practice. You will find blueprints for group success in icebreakers, role plays, mindfulness, stress resiliency, communication skills, imagery, personal growth, group cohesiveness and skill building.

150 More Group Therapy Activities & TIPS (2017)

Bestselling author Judith Belmont has created another treasure chest of hands-on and easy-to-use handouts, activities, worksheets, mini-lessons and quizzes that help clients develop effective life skills.

100 Interactive Activities for Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery (2001)

Energize, empower and educate your group participants with these 100 interactive activities designed for clients dealing with mental health and substance abuse recovery issues. 

101 Trauma-Informed Interventions: Activities, Exercises & Assignments to Move the Client & Therapy Forward (2013)

This is the workbook that all mental health professionals wish they had at the beginning of their careers. Containing over 100 approaches to effectively deal with trauma, this workbook pulls together a wide array of treatments into one concise resource. Equally useful in both group and individual settings, these interventions will provide hope for the client, as well as expand and solidify the professional’s expertise.

Attachment: 60 Trauma-Informed Assessment & Treatment Interventions Across the Lifespan (2018)

Simple, attachment is the way that we connect to each other. Without attachment, people feel alone to deal with challenges they face, which leads to distress, dysfunction and mental health disorders. It is possible to repair dysfunctional attachment, but first it is necessary to recognize attachment style, unhealthy relationship patterns, and the impact they are having.

Diagnosis Made Easier: Principles & Techniques for Mental Health Clinicians, 3rd Edition (2024)

Guidelines are presented for evaluating information from multiple sources, constructing a wide-ranging differential diagnosis, creating a safety hierarchy, and using decision trees to derive a valid working diagnosis. The book addresses specific issues in diagnosing the conditions most often seen in mental health practice, with an emphasis on how diagnosis informs effective treatment. More than 100 vivid vignettes illustrate the diagnostic process and allow readers to practice their skills.

Encyclopedia of Counseling: Master Review & Tutorial for the National Counselor Examination, State Counseling Exams, & the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination, 4th Edition (2017)

With more questions and answers than any other edition, the Encyclopedia of Counseling, 4th Edition, is still the only book you need to pass the NCE, CPCE, and other counseling exams. Every chapter has new and updated material and is still written in Dr. Rosenthal’s lively, user-friendly style counselors know and love. The book’s new and improved coverage incorporates a range of vital topics, including social media, group work in career counseling, private practice and nonprofit work, addictions, neurocounseling, research trends, the DSM-5, the new ACA and NBCC codes of ethics, and much, much more.

Essential Assessment Skills for Couple & Family Therapists (2014)

Showing how to weave assessment into all phases of therapy, this indispensable text and practitioner guide is reader friendly, straightforward, and practical. Specific strategies are provided for evaluating a wide range of clinical issues and concerns with adults, children and adolescents, families, and couples. The authors demonstrate ways to use interviewing and other techniques to understand both individual and relationship functioning, develop sound treatment plans, and monitor progress. Handy mnemonics help beginning family therapists remember what to include in assessments, and numerous case examples illustrate what the assessment principles look like in action with diverse clients.

Essentials of Clinical Supervision (2005)

Utilizing pedagogical tools such as call-out boxes, Test Yourself questions, and case studies, the author provides step-by-step guidelines for effective planning, goal setting, and evaluation, along with tips for giving constructive feedback and applying coaching strategies to motivate supervisees. She also clearly explains how to manage paperwork and describes specialized techniques, such as using video in supervision. This informative text also includes a special section on ethics authored by a leading expert in the field.

Group Exercises for Addiction Counseling (2016)

Providing immediately useful group counseling suggestions and tips for addictions counselors, Group Exercises for Addiction Counseling offers powerful techniques that can be adapted to any clinical practice.

Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (Applications of Motivational Interviewing), 4th Edition (2023)

Now in a fully rewritten fourth edition, this is the authoritative presentation of motivational interviewing (MI), the powerful approach to facilitating change. It has been updated and streamlined to be even more user-friendly as a practitioner guide and course text. MI originators William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick elucidate the four tasks of MI – engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning – and vividly demonstrate what they look like in action. A wealth of vignettes and interview examples illustrate the dos and don’ts of successful implementation in diverse contexts. The book reviews the evidence base for the approach and covers ways to assess the quality of MI. The companion website provides reflection questions, annotated case material, and additional helpful resources.

Motivational Interviewing & CBT: Combining Strategies for Maximum Effectiveness (Applications of Motivational Interviewing) (2023)

Providing tools to enhance treatment of any clinical problem, this book shows how integrating motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can lead to better client outcomes than using either approach on its own. The authors demonstrate that MI strategies are ideally suited to boost client motivation and strengthen the therapeutic relationship, whether used as a pretreatment intervention or throughout the course of CBT.

The Therapeutic “Aha!”: 10 Strategies for Getting Your Clients Unstuck (2015)

Courtney Armstrong’s The Therapeutic “Aha!” explores the thrilling and rare moment when a client reaches an elusive realization, allowing them to make meaningful change. In 10 straightforward strategies, this practical book demonstrates how to shake things up in therapy when a client is stuck or stalled to jumpstart progress. Readers will learn how to spark the “emotional brain”―the part of the brain that houses automatic, unconscious patterns―and create new neural pathways that engage and advance the healing process.

Trauma Treatment Toolbox: 165 Brain-Changing Tips, Tools & Handouts to Move Therapy Forward (2019)

The latest research from neuroscience and psychotherapy has shown we can rewire the brain to facilitate trauma recovery. Trauma Treatment Toolbox teaches clinicians how to take that brain-based approach to trauma therapy, showing how to effectively heal clients’ brain with straightforward, easy-to-implement treatment techniques.


must-read books

Group Therapy: A Comprehensive Resource Guide

A group therapy resource guide with recommended books, topic ideas, group activities, practical tips, and more.

Initially, the idea of group therapy terrified me. What if I can’t “control” the group? What if I can’t think of anything to say? And the overly dramatic, What if everyone gets up and walks out?

Group facilitation wasn’t always comfortable, and I made many mistakes, but I grew. I realized it’s okay to be counselor and human; at times, humans say dumb stuff, hurt each other’s feelings, and don’t know the answer.


This resource guide provides practical information and tools for group therapy for mental health practitioners.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Group Therapy Guidelines

Group therapy is an evidence-based treatment for substance use and mental disorders. An effective group calls for a skilled clinician to meet treatment standards.

Professional associations, such as the American Group Psychotherapy Association, have developed best practice guidelines based on scientific data and clinical research. The Association for Specialists in Group Work created best practice guidelines for group work and guiding principles.

Additionally, SAMHSA promotes research-based protocols and has published several group therapy guides for best practice, including TIP 41: Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy, Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy – Quick Guide for Clinicians, and Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy Inservice Training (a training manual), in addition to group workbooks/facilitator guides for anger management, stimulant use disorder, and serious mental illness.

Book Recommendations

Disclaimer: This section contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

group exercises for addiction counseling

The book itself is small in size but packed with helpful information and creative ideas.


This guide provides detailed instructions for each activity along with thought-provoking discussion questions.

Textbooks

Groups: Process and Practice (2017) by Marianne Schneider Corey, Gerald Corey, & Cindy Corey

groups-process and practice

The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (2020) by Irvin D. Yalom & Molyn Leszcz 

theory and practice of group psychotherapy

(For additional book recommendations, see Resources for Mental Health Professionals and Must-Read Books for Therapists.)

Icebreakers & Activities

Fun Facts: My favorite icebreaker activity involves passing out blank slips of paper to each group member and instructing them to write a “fun fact” about themselves, something no one else in the group would know.

Depending on the crowd, you may want to tell clients not to write anything they wouldn’t want their peers to know. (I adopted this guideline after a client wrote about “sharting” himself.) Once everyone has written something, have them fold their papers and place in a container of some sort (a gift box, paper bag, plastic bowl, etc.) Group members take turns passing around the container (one-at-a-time) and picking a slip to read aloud. They must then guess who wrote it. (Give them at least three guesses before turning it over to the rest of the group.)


Icebreaker Question Cards: A similar but more structured activity is to write out questions ahead of time and have clients take turns drawing and answering the questions. Questions can be silly, thought-provoking, or to illicit a strong emotional response (depending on audience and goals).


People Search: This activity utilizes a list of traits, feats, talents, or experiences. Each client receives the list and is given x amount of time to find someone in the group who is a match; that individual will then sign off. The first person to have their list completely signed sits down; they win.

(Prizes optional, but always appreciated.) During the debriefing, it’s fun to learn more (and thereby increase understanding and compassion).


First Impressions: This works best with group members who don’t know each other well. It’s important for group members to at least know each other’s names (or wear name tags). Each group member has a sheet of paper with various “impressions.”

Clients write other group members’ names for each impression. In addition to enhancing a sense of community, this activity provides an avenue for discussing harmful stereotypes and stigma.


Affirmations Group: Affirmations groups can be powerful, generating unity and kindness. The effect seems to be more pronounced in gender-specific groups. There are a variety of ways to facilitate an affirmations group, ranging from each person providing an affirmation to the client on their right to individuals sharing a self-affirmation with the group to creating a self-affirmation painting.

Another idea is to give each client a sheet of paper. (Consider using quality, brightly-colored paper/posterboard and providing markers, gel pens, etc.) Clients write their name on it and then all the papers are passed around so each group member has the opportunity to write on everyone else’s sheet. Once their original paper is returned to them, they can read and share with the group. This can lead to a powerful discussion about image, reputation, feeling fake, etc.


Most Likely & Least Likely to Relapse: This activity works best with a well-formed group and may require extra staff support. It’s good for larger groups and can be highly effective in a therapeutic community.

Clients receive blank pieces of paper and are tasked to write the names of who they think is most likely and least likely to relapse. After writing their own name on the sheet, they turn it in to staff (effectively allowing staff to maintain a safe and productive environment). Staff then read each sheet aloud (without naming who wrote it). If they choose, clients can share what they wrote and provide additional feedback. (Most do.) Clients selected as “most likely” (in either category) have the opportunity to process with other group members and staff.


Access more group therapy worksheets and handouts here.

Additional Group Activities

Psychoeducation & Process Groups

In need of fresh material? It can be easy to fall into a rut, especially if you’re burnout or working with a particularly challenging group. The following three PDF downloads are lists of ideas/questions for groups.

Additional Ideas for Psychoeducation & Process Groups

Practical Tips for Psychoeducation & Process Groups

As a group facilitator, consider incorporating some sort of experiential activity, quiz, handout, game, etc. each group to engage clients and keep them engaged.

A sample agenda for a 60-minute group:

  • Group members check in (5 minutes)
  • Handout review (clients take turns reading) (5-10 minutes)
  • Group discussion/processing (10-15 minutes)
  • Restroom/smoke break (5 minutes)
  • Roleplay or short video clip (to visually present what was covered in the handout/discussion) (5-10 minutes)
  • Facilitator summarizes and asks group members how they will incorporate what they learned or how they’re feeling (5 minutes)
  • Group members have the opportunity to respond (5-10 minutes)

If an experiential or interactive exercise isn’t feasible, provide coffee or snacks; sitting for 45 minutes is difficult for some, and 90 minutes can be unbearable.

Another idea is to have a “fun” or “free” group. Ideas include going bowling, having a potluck, Starbucks run, game group, escape room, nature walk, etc.

Dealing with Challenges

Clients are not always willing therapy participants; some are court-ordered to attend or there to have privileges restored. Some attendees may be there “voluntarily,” but only to save their marriage or keep a job, not believing they need help. In residential treatment, clients attend mandatory groups as part of the daily schedule.

Even when attendance is truly voluntary, a group member may be in a bad space. Maybe they’re stressed about the rent or just got into a fight with their significant other. Or what if the AC is broken and the group room is 80 degrees?

Anticipating challenges is the first step to effectively preventing and managing them.


Click here for a helpful article from Counseling Today that addresses the concept of client resistance.

Tips for Dealing with Challenges

1. If possible, co-facilitate. One clinician leads while the other observes. The observer remains attuned to the general “tone” of the group (e.g., facial expressions, body language, etc.)

2. Review the expectations at the beginning of every group. Ask clients to recall the guidelines (instead of you telling them). This promotes a collaborative spirit.

3. After guidelines are reviewed, explain that while interrupting is discouraged, there may be times when you interject to maintain the overall wellness and safety of the group. (Knowing this, a client is less likely to get angry or feel disrespected when/if it happens.)

4. And if during group you must interrupt, apologize and explain the rationale.

5. Avoid power struggles at all costs, especially when a client challenges the benefits of treatment. Challenging the efficacy of treatment (or you as a clinician) is a defense mechanism. If the group is relatively healthy, you may want to illicit feedback from other group members before responding. Sometimes, the best response is simply “okay,” or none at all… and keep moving to avoid the group becoming a complaint session. You could also acknowledge the client’s perspective and ask to meet with them after group to discuss.

6. If a client becomes angry or tearful, give them time to vent for a moment or two (don’t “Band-Aid”); they may be able to self-regulate. (If they do self-regulate, share your observations and offer praise.)

7. If a client’s anger escalates to a disruptive level, ask them to take a break. At this point, their behavior is potentially triggering other group members. Don’t raise your voice. Stay calm and be respectful but firm. Direct them to step out and ask them to return when they’re ready.

8. If a client is disrespectful (cursing at you or another client, name-calling, insulting, etc.) while escalated, let them know it’s not okay, but don’t attempt to provide feedback. (A simple, “Hey, that’s not okay,” will suffice.) Bring it up with the client later when they’re able to process.

9. Once the escalated client exits the room, acknowledge what happened and let the group know you intend to follow up with that person. If a group member wants to talk about it, ask them to limit their share to how it made them feel, but stress that it’s not okay to talk about an absent group member. (“How would you feel if we talked about you when you weren’t here?”) Strongly suggest that they wait until the person returns (and is open) to have a group discussion (if appropriate).

10. After a major blow-up (and once everyone is calm), it can be beneficial for the group to process it with the person who escalated. Group members can empathize/relate, share their observations and/or how it made them feel, and offer feedback.

11. If other disruptive behaviors occur in group (side conversations, snoring, etc.) address them in the moment objectively (without shaming). Point out the behavior and explain how it’s disruptive to the group. Refer back to the group guidelines. Ask group members to comment as well. If you let a behavior persist, hoping it will eventually stop, you’re sending the message that it’s okay, not only to the person who is disruptive, but to the entire group. This impacts the integrity of the group and opens things up for additional disruptive behaviors.

12. For clients who monopolize, are constantly joking, or who attempt to intentionally distract by changing the topic, objectively point out your observations. When appropriate, ask other group members to comment on your observations and provide feedback to their peer.

13. If, on the other hand, one or several clients seem disengaged or unmotivated, consider asking why, privately or in the group, whichever is clinically appropriate.

14. If there’s a general level of disengagement, bring it up in the group. Remain objective and state your observations.

15. Anticipate that at times, people may not have much to say. (Consider that while there’s always something to learn or process, that doesn’t mean someone is ready to or has the emotional energy to.) Maybe they’re distracted or tired or feeling “talked out.” It’s good to have backup plans: watch a psychoeducational film, take a walk in the park, listen to meditations or music, provide worksheets, education reading material, or coloring sheets.

16. Always keep in mind a client’s stage of change, their internal experiences (e.g., hearing voices, social anxiety, paranoia, physical pain, etc.), external circumstances (e.g., recent medication change, loss of housing, conflict with roommates, etc.), and history of trauma. What looks like resistance may be something else entirely.


Professional Group Therapy Organizations

Academic Articles

Online Articles

Additional Links

  • Center for Group Studies | The Center provides a unique method of group training. Principles and techniques are based on the theory that the group is a powerful agent of change.
  • Group Dynamics | This blog provides some links and book chapters on various topics related to the study of groups. You can also find teaching resources related to group dynamics. 
  • Management Library | This site provides free resources for managers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Much of the content on facilitation and teams is applicable to group facilitation.
  • My Group Guide | A great tool for those who do not have the time to find worksheets/handouts for their clients, group activities, and other resources.
  • Resources in Group Psychotherapy | Helpful resources and links for group psychotherapy from the Sacramento Center for Psychotherapy, including an online forum.
  • Systems-Centered Training & Research Institute | SCTRI is an non-profit organization with members from all around the world that supports training and research in the systems-centered approach. 

group therapy

6 Powerful Movies About Addiction & Mental Illness

A list of movies about mental health and substance abuse with printable discussion handouts

watching TV
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

The following is a list of movies about addiction and mental disorders that are appropriate to show in treatment settings. This post includes movie summaries and downloadable PDF handouts with questions for discussion.

Please note that some of the films on this list are graphic and may not be appropriate for children or adolescents.


Hint: The handouts contain spoilers; do not provide until after the movie ends.

Movies About Addiction & Mental Illness

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.


Ben Is Back (2018)

103 minutes (1 hour, 43 minutes), R-rating for language and drug use

Summary: Julia Roberts plays a mother, Holly, whose 19-year old son, Ben, surprises her by returning home for Christmas. Ben is newly in recovery; his addiction has placed a tremendous strain on the family in the past. Ben’s younger siblings are happy to see him, but Holly, fearing that he is not ready, is apprehensive.

That evening, the family attends church. When they return, they find their home burglarized and the dog missing. Ben blames himself, believing someone from his past took the dog to get his attention; he leaves to look for the dog. Holly goes with him, but they’re later separated, and Holly attempts to track Ben. Eventually, she ends up at an abandoned barn where she finds her son on the floor, unresponsive. The movie ends with her administering Narcan to Ben.

Girl, Interrupted (1999)

127 minutes (2 hours, 7 minutes), R-rating for strong language and content relating to drugs, sexuality, and suicide

Summary: Winona Ryder plays Susanna, a young woman with borderline personality disorder, who is sent to a psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt in the late 1960s. She befriends Lisa (Angelia Jolie), who carries a diagnosis of sociopathy (antisocial personality disorder). Initially, Susanna is in denial about her mental condition and is not open to treatment. However, she reaches a turning point after a tragedy.

Pay It Forward (2000)

123 minutes (2 hours, 3 minutes), PG-13 rating for mature thematic elements including substance abuse/recovery, some sexual situations, language, and brief violence

Summary: Trevor (Haley Joel Osment) starts a chain reaction of goodness for a social studies project with a plan to change the world for the better. In this film, Trevor is a high school student whose mother, Arlene (Helen Hunt), struggles with alcoholism and whose father is abusive. He rises above unfortunate circumstances with the kindhearted idea to do a good deed, but instead of requesting payback, asking the receiver to “pay it forward” to at least three people – and on and on. While the movie has a bittersweet end, the message is uplifting and powerful.  

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

103 minutes (1 hour, 43 minutes), PG-13 rating

Summary: Charlie is an unpopular high school freshman, a “wallflower,” who is befriended by two seniors, Patrick and Sam (Emma Watson). The movie is about their friendship and Charlie’s personal struggles with the recent suicide of his friend and his own mental illness. Throughout the film, Charlie has flashbacks of his aunt, who died in a car accident when he was 7. It’s eventually revealed that Charlie’s aunt molested him; a sexual encounter with Sam triggers Charlie’s repressed memories. Charlie has a mental breakdown.

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

113 minutes (1 hour, 54 minutes), R-rating for language and brief sexuality

Summary: Anne Hathaway plays Kym, a troubled young woman, who returns from rehab to her family home for her sister’s wedding. The film portrays how Kym’s addiction has placed strain on the family.

When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)

126 minutes (2 hours, 6 minutes), R-rating for language

Summary: Meg Ryan plays Alice, a woman with an alcohol use disorder. The film is about how Alice’s addiction impacts her family and how she recovers.

Bonus: The Netflix original films Heroin(e) (2017) and Recovery Boys (2018) have PDF discussion guides with a summary, questions, and resources posted on the Recovery Boys website.


Other great resources for using clinical films as therapeutic interventions include the book Movies & Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathy, 4th ed. (by Danny Wedding and Ryan M. Niemiec) and the site Teach With Movies.

movies about addiction

200+ Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts

An extensive list of 200+ sites with free therapy worksheets and handouts on various topics, for clinical use or for self-help.

This post is archived; I will no longer be updating this page. For the newest edition of this guide, please see 250+ Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets.

(Updated 11/28/23) If you’re a counselor or therapist, you’re probably familiar with Therapist Aid, one of the most well-known sites for providing no-cost therapy worksheets. But Therapist Aid isn’t the only resource for free clinical tools! This is a list of over 200 sites with free therapy worksheets and handouts.

free therapy worksheets
Image by Free stock photos from www.rupixen.com from Pixabay

See below for links to websites with free therapy worksheets and handouts for clinical use and self-help.


Click here for therapy worksheets, handouts, and guides posted on this site. Access additional free printables by joining Mind Remake Project’s Facebook group, Resources for Mental Health Counselors & Social Workers. 🆕


Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts

Therapy Worksheets for Mental Health

Therapy Worksheets for Substance Use Disorders & Addiction

Depression, Stress, & Anxiety

Trauma & Related Disorders

Psychosis

Grief & Loss

Anger

Self-Esteem

Values & Goal-Setting

Wellness & Resiliency

ACT, CBT, & DBT Therapy Worksheets

Therapy Worksheets for Children & Youth

Therapy Worksheets for Adolescents & Young Adults

Therapy Worksheets for Marriage/Relationships & Family

Additional Therapy Worksheets & Handouts


🔝

Please contact me if a link isn’t working or if you’d like to recommend a site with free therapy worksheets!

free therapy worksheets

50 Free Marriage & Relationship Assessment Tools

A list of over 50 free marriage and relationship assessment tools to use with couples in marriage and family counseling.

(Updated 8/29/22) This is a list of free marriage and relationship assessment tools to use with couples in marriage and family counseling for assessing relationship satisfaction/expectations, attachment styles, communication, domestic violence/sex addiction, and more.

marriage
Image by bporbs from Pixabay

See Free Online Screening & Assessment Tools for additional screening tools.

Marriage & Relationship Assessment Tools

Relationship Assessment Tools for Satisfaction & Expectations

Attachment Styles

Communication

Domestic Violence & Sex Addiction

  • Danger Assessment Screening Tool | Clinicians can download a PDF version of this assessment, which helps predict the level of danger in an abusive relationship; this screening tool was developed to predict violence and homicide.
  • Domestic Violence Assessment Tools | Five relationship assessments from the Domestic Shelters site
  • Domestic Violence Screening Quiz | Interactive test from PsychCentral to determine if you’re involved in a dangerous abusive relationship
  • Sexual Addiction Quiz | A brief screening measure from PsychCentral to help you determine if you are struggling with sexual addiction

Additional Relationship Assessment Tools


relationship assessment

200 Free Printable Workbooks, Manuals, & Self-Help Guides: Children, Adolescents, & Families

A list of over 200 free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and self-help guides for children, adolescents, and families.

(Updated 8/21/22) This is a list of over 200 free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and self-help guides for children, adolescents, and families. This post is divided into two sections: printable workbooks and resources for providers and printable workbooks and resources for families.

family
Image by Brad Dorsey from Pixabay

Please repost this and/or share with anyone you think could benefit from these free printable workbooks, guides, and other resources!


For additional resources for youth and family, see Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts and Social Work Toolbox. For additional printable workbooks and guides, see 500 Free Printable Workbooks & Manuals for Therapists.


200+ Free Printable Workbooks, Manuals, & Toolkits: Children, Adolescents, & Families

Disclaimer: Links are provided for informational and educational purposes. I recommend reviewing each resource before using for updated copyright protections that may have changed since it was posted here. When in doubt, contact the author(s).

FOR PROVIDERS

Printable Workbooks & Treatment Manuals/Curriculums

Printable Workbooks for Mood & Anxiety Disorders
Printable Workbooks for Substance Use Disorders
Printable Workbooks for Anger
Printable Workbooks for Self-Esteem
Printable Workbooks for Communication, Relationships, & Sexuality
LGBTQ+ Youth
Latinix Youth

Group Counseling Resources


Toolkits & Guides


FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES

Printable Workbooks For Children & Adolescents


Toolkits & Guides

For Parents & Caregivers
For Youth & Adolescents

Please contact me if a link isn’t working or if you’d like to suggest a resource for free printable workbooks or tools for children, youth, and families!

free printable workbooks

38 Unconventional Coping Strategies

A list of uncommon strategies for coping with stress, depression, and anxiety. Includes a free PDF version of the list to print and use as a handout.

Image by Daniel Sampaio Donate if you want (Paypal) from Pixabay

Effective coping skills make it possible to survive life’s stressors, obstacles, and hardships. Without coping strategies, life would be unmanageable. Dr. Constance Scharff described coping mechanisms as “skills we… have that allow us to make sense of our negative experiences and integrate them into a healthy, sustainable perspective of the world.” Healthy coping strategies promote resilience when experiencing minor stressors, such as getting a poor performance review at work, or major ones, such as the loss of a loved one.

Like any skill, coping is important to practice on a regular basis in order to be effective. Do this by maintaining daily self-care (at a minimum: adequate rest, healthy meals, exercise, staying hydrated, and avoiding drugs/alcohol.)

As an expert on you (and how you adapt to stressful situations), you may already know what helps the most when life seems out-of-control. (I like reading paranormal romance/fantasy-type books!) Maybe you meditate or run or rap along to loud rap music or have snuggle time with the cats or binge watch your favorite show on Netflix. Having insight into/awareness of your coping strategies primes you for unforeseeable tragedies in life.

“Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.”

Virginia Satir, Therapist (June 26, 2019-September 10, 1988)

Healthy coping varies greatly from person to person; what matters is that your personal strategies work for you. For example, one person may find prayer helpful, but for someone who isn’t religious, prayer might be ineffective. Instead, they may swim laps at the gym when going through a difficult time. Another person may cope by crying and talking it out with a close friend.

Image by Victor Vote from Pixabay

Note: there are various mental health treatment approaches (i.e. DBT, trauma-focused CBT, etc.) that incorporate specialized, evidence-based coping techniques that are proven to work (by reducing symptoms and improving wellbeing) for certain disorders. The focus of this post is basic coping, not treatment interventions.

On the topic of coping skills, the research literature is vast (and beyond the scope of this post). While many factors influence coping (i.e. personality/temperament, stressors experienced, mental and physical health, etc.), evidence backs the following methods: problem-solving techniques, mindfulness/meditation, exercise, relaxation techniques, reframing, acceptance, humor, seeking support, and religion/spirituality. (Note that venting is not on the list!) Emotional intelligence may also play a role in the efficiency of coping skills.


Current Research

In 2011, researchers found that positive reframes, acceptance, and humor were the most effective copings skills for students dealing with small setbacks. The effect of humor as a positive coping skill has been found in prior studies, several of which focused on coping skills in the workplace.

A sport psychology study indicated that professional golfers who used positive self-talk, blocked negative thoughts, maintained focus, and remained in a relaxed state effectively coped with stress, keeping a positive mindset. Effective copers also sought advice as needed throughout the game. A 2015 study suggested that helping others, even strangers, helps mitigate the impact of stress.


Examples of coping skills include prayer, meditation, deep breathing, exercise, talking to a trusted person, journaling, cleaning, and creating art. However, the purpose of this post is to provide coping alternatives. Maybe meditation isn’t your thing or journaling leaves you feeling like crap. Coping is not one-size-fits-all. The best approach to coping is to find and try lots of different things!

Image by Amanda Oliveira from Pixabay

The inspiration for this post came from Facebook. (Facebook is awesome for networking! I’m a member of several professional groups.) Lauren Mills sought ideas for unconventional strategies via Facebook… With permission, I’m sharing some of them here!    


Unconventional Coping Strategies

  1. Crack pistachio nuts
  2. Fold warm towels
  3. Smell your dog (Fun fact: dog paws smell like corn chips!) or watch them sleep
  4. Peel dried glue off your hands
  5. Break glass at the recycling center
  6. Pop bubble wrap
  7. Lie upside down
  8. Watch slime or pimple popping videos on YouTube
  9. Sort and build Lego’s
  10. Write in cursive
  11. Observe fish in an aquarium
  12. Twirl/spin around
  13. Solve math problems (by hand)
  14. Use a voice-changing app (Snapchat works too) to repeat back your worry/critical thoughts in the voice of a silly character OR sing your worries/thoughts aloud to the tune of “Happy Birthday”
  15. Listen to the radio in foreign languages
  16. Chop vegetables
  17. Go for a joy ride (Windows down!)
  18. Watch YouTube videos of cute animals and/or giggling babies
  19. Blow bubbles
  20. Walk barefoot outside
  21. Draw/paint on your skin
  22. Play with (dry) rice
  23. Do (secret) “random acts of kindness”
  24. Play with warm (not hot) candle wax
  25. Watch AMSR videos on YouTube
  26. Shuffle cards
  27. Recite family recipes
  28. Find the nicest smelling flowers at a grocery store
  29. Count things
  30. Use an app to try different hairstyles and/or makeup
  31. People-watch with a good friend and make up stories about everyone you see (Take it to the next level with voiceovers!)
  32. Wash your face mindfully
  33. Buy a karaoke machine and sing your heart out when you’re home alone
  34. On Instagram, watch videos of a hydraulic press smash things, cake decorating, pottery/ceramics throwing, hand lettering, and/or woodwork
  35. Shine tarnished silver
  36. Create a glitter jar and enjoy
  37. Tend to plants
  38. Color in a vulgar coloring book for adults

Image by A_Different_Perspective from Pixabay

Click below for a PDF version of “Unconventional Coping Strategies.” This handout can be printed, copied, and shared without the author’s permission, providing it’s not used for monetary gain.

Unconventional Coping Strategies


  • Cassie Jewell, M.Ed., LPC, LSATP
  • With Lauren Mills, MA, LPC-Intern (Contributor)
  • Lauren Mills, MA, LPC-Intern (Supervised by Mary Ann Satori, LPC-S) is a therapist in Texas and a current resident in counseling.     

I’d like to acknowledge all members of Therapist Toolbox – Resources & Support for Therapists who submitted ideas!


If you have an uncommon coping skill, post in a comment!

coping strategies

350 Creative Ideas for Hobbies

Discover a new hobby with this diverse list of assorted leisure activities, which range from beekeeping to Kombucha brewing to knife throwing to ghost hunting.

I developed this list as part of a project I was working on and thought it would be worth sharing. (Click below for a PDF version of this list.)

PDF: List Of Hobbies


350 Ideas for Hobbies

Jump to a section:

Animals & Nature Hobbies

  1. Attend pet shows (or horse shows)
  2. Beachcombing
  3. Beekeeping
  4. Berry or apple picking
  5. Bird watching
  6. Butterfly garden (Visit one or create your own!)
  7. Butterfly watching
  8. Be a plant parent; nurture and care for indoor plants
  9. Composting
  10. Dog training
  11. Dog walking
  12. Forest bathing
  13. Fossil hunting
  14. Grow and tend to a fruit tree
  15. Grow an indoor herb garden
  16. Grow plants from seedlings (and plant outside when in-season)
  17. Hang humming bird feeders and then sit back and enjoy the company!
  18. Horseback riding
  19. Become an expert at identifying various plants and/or insects
  20. Mushroom hunting
  21. Nature walks
  22. Adopt a pet
  23. Pet fostering
  24. Pet sitting
  25. Plant a flower bed
  26. Go on a swamp tour
  27. Tend to a vegetable garden
  28. Topiary
  29. Visit a farm
  30. Visit an aquarium
  31. Go to zoos and/or nature centers
  32. Watch wildlife on Animal Planet
  33. Go whale watching

🔝

Arts & Crafts

  1. Drawing
  2. Candle making
  3. Collage making
  4. Coloring
  5. Crocheting
  6. Design your own greeting cards or stationary
  7. Flower arranging
  8. Foraging
  9. Glassblowing
  10. Jewelry making
  11. Knitting
  12. Lettering/calligraphy
  13. Mixed media art
  14. Mosaic making
  15. Origami
  16. Painting (watercolor, oils, acrylics, etc.)
  17. Paper crafts (including paper mâché)
  18. Photography
  19. Pressed flower craft
  20. Pottery
  21. Quilting
  22. Resin crafts
  23. Rock tumbling
  24. Scrapbooking
  25. Sculpting
  26. Sewing
  27. Sketching
  28. Soap making
  29. Weaving
  30. Wood carving

🔝

Collection Hobbies

  1. Action figures
  2. Antiques
  3. Autographs
  4. Barbies™
  5. Books (classics, signed copies, etc.)
  6. Bookmarks
  7. Christmas tree ornaments
  8. Comics
  9. Fun socks
  10. Hot sauce from around the world
  11. Keychains
  12. Magnets
  13. Movie or music memorabilia
  14. Obsolete tech (i.e. outdated cell phones, tape players, etc.)
  15. Original artwork
  16. Plates
  17. Purses, shoes, and other accessories
  18. Recipes
  19. Records
  20. Retro video games
  21. Rocks and/or crystals
  22. Shells
  23. Souvenirs
  24. Sports memorabilia
  25. Stickers
  26. Ticket stubs
  27. Toys
  28. Vases
  29. Vintage items

🔝

Cooking & Baking

  1. Baking
  2. Braising
  3. Bread making
  4. Cake decorating
  5. Canning
  6. Cheese making
  7. Coffee roasting
  8. Cookie decorating
  9. Grilling and BBQ
  10. Hosting dinner parties
  11. Kombucha brewing
  12. Learn ethnic and regional recipes
  13. Learn recipes from cooking shows
  14. Make “fun foods” for kids
  15. Make homemade ice cream
  16. Make jam or jelly
  17. Make your own beef (or vegan!) jerky
  18. Participate in competitive food festivals (or just go and enjoy the food!)
  19. Pasta making
  20. Pastry and confection making
  21. Pickling
  22. Pie making
  23. Raw diet meals
  24. Recreate menu items from your favorite restaurants
  25. Reduced fat cooking
  26. Sautéing
  27. Slow cooker meals
  28. Smoothie making
  29. Soup, sauce, and stock making
  30. Sushi making
  31. Take a cooking class
  32. Tea brewing
  33. Try new recipes on a regular basis
  34. Use an air fryer
  35. Use a dehydrator
  36. Use Pinterest for inspiration
  37. Vegan cooking
  38. Watch Food Network for inspiration

🔝

Entertainment

  1. Attend movies, operas, plays, and musicals
  2. Bingo
  3. Board games and/or party games
  4. Card games
  5. Chess
  6. Strategy games
  7. Dine out at new restaurants
  8. Escape rooms
  9. Gaming
  10. Go to museums
  11. Go to poetry slams or open mic nights
  12. Jigsaw puzzles
  13. Karaoke
  14. Murder mystery shows
  15. Rage rooms
  16. Read entertainment/celebrity magazines
  17. See your favorite bands/artists perform live
  18. Standup comedy
  19. Theme parks
  20. Watch your favorite Netflix series, but make sure you become overly invested (borderline obsessed) with the storyline and characters in order for this to qualify as a legit hobby

🔝

Home Improvement & DIY

  1. Add a backsplash to your kitchen
  2. Bathroom remodel
  3. Build a shed
  4. Build furniture
  5. Design a meditation room, home office, “man cave,” or “she shed”
  6. DIY headboard
  7. Fireplace makeover
  8. Hanging shelves
  9. Home organization
  10. Install smart home technology
  11. Kitchen remodel
  12. Paint an accent wall or update your entire home
  13. Paint old cabinets
  14. Redecorate a room
  15. Stencil or wallpaper
  16. Update a closet
  17. Update furniture
  18. Update lighting
  19. Use chalk paint or metallic spray paint

🔝

Literature, Music, & Dance

  1. Acting
  2. Visit art galleries
  3. Attend literary fests
  4. Ballroom dancing
  5. Belly dancing
  6. Blogging/guest blogging
  7. Break dancing
  8. Editing
  9. Go to book signings
  10. Go to the library
  11. Join a book club (either in-person or online, e.g., Goodreads)
  12. Listen to music
  13. Play/learn an instrument
  14. Puppeteering
  15. Rapping
  16. Reading
  17. Sell your art on Etsy
  18. Singing
  19. Song writing
  20. Submit articles/opinion pieces/essays to magazines and newspapers
  21. Swing dancing
  22. Take a dance class
  23. Take a drama or improv class
  24. Take voice lessons
  25. Wikipedia editing
  26. Write a book
  27. Write poetry
  28. Write short stories

🔝

Outdoor & Adventure

  1. ATV-ing
  2. Backpacking
  3. Boating
  4. Bouldering
  5. Bungee jumping
  6. Camping
  7. Canoeing
  8. Caving
  9. Cornhole
  10. Drone piloting
  11. Fishing
  12. Geocaching
  13. Go-Karting
  14. Hammocking
  15. Hiking
  16. Hot air ballooning
  17. Jump roping
  18. Kayaking
  19. Mountain biking
  20. Mountain climbing
  21. Obstacle courses
  22. Oversized lawn games
  23. Paddle boarding
  24. Parasailing
  25. Peak bagging
  26. Rocking climbing
  27. Sailing
  28. Scuba diving
  29. Skiing
  30. Skydiving
  31. Snorkeling
  32. Snowboarding
  33. Snowmobiling
  34. Snowshoeing
  35. Star gazing
  36. Stone skipping
  37. Trail running
  38. Tree climbing
  39. Waterskiing
  40. White water rafting
  41. Wilderness survival
  42. Zorbing

🔝

Self-Improvement & Social Hobbies

  1. Advocate for a cause
  2. Attend support groups/meetings
  3. Attend workshops/conventions
  4. Bullet journaling
  5. Daily positive affirmations and/or self-reflection
  6. Join a club
  7. Join a gym
  8. Join a Meetup group
  9. Join a political campaign
  10. Journaling
  11. Keep a gratitude journal
  12. Listen to podcasts
  13. Make a vision board and update it regularly
  14. Meditation
  15. Read research
  16. Read self-improvement books
  17. Social media
  18. Stretching
  19. Take a class (i.e., a foreign language, computer class, etc.)
  20. Use a habit tracker app
  21. Volunteer
  22. Watch documentaries
  23. Watch inspirational Ted Talks
  24. Wear a fitness tracker
  25. Yoga
  26. Yoga with baby goats

🔝

Competitive Sports

  1. Archery
  2. Badminton 
  3. Baseball
  4. Basketball
  5. Biking
  6. Body building
  7. Bowling
  8. Boxing
  9. Cricket
  10. Darts
  11. Disc golf/frisbee
  12. Fencing
  13. Fitbit step challenges
  14. Football/flag football
  15. Golf
  16. Gymnastics
  17. Hockey
  18. Hot dog eating
  19. Ice skating
  20. Jogging/running
  21. Knife throwing
  22. Lacrosse
  23. Laser tag
  24. Log rolling
  25. Martial arts
  26. Paintball
  27. Poker
  28. Racquetball
  29. Racing
  30. Roller derby
  31. Rugby
  32. Skateboarding
  33. Soccer
  34. Speed walking
  35. Surfing/body boarding
  36. Swimming
  37. Table football
  38. Table tennis
  39. Tennis
  40. Thai Chi
  41. UFC fighting
  42. Underwater rugby
  43. Volleyball
  44. Weightlifting
  45. Wheelbarrow racing
  46. Wrestling

🔝

Travel

  1. Alaskan cruise
  2. All-inclusive resorts
  3. Antarctic cruise
  4. Around-the-world cruise
  5. Beach vacations
  6. Caribbean cruise
  7. Cross-country train trip
  8. Explore your home town and other nearby place as though you’re a tourist
  9. Guided group tours
  10. Mediterranean cruise
  11. River cruise
  12. Road trip
  13. See the Northern Lights
  14. Transatlantic cruise
  15. Travel to all the continents in the world
  16. Travel to all 50 states in America
  17. Trip to Las Vegas
  18. Visit the Grand Canyon
  19. Visit the New Seven Wonders of the World
  20. Visit the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World
  21. Go on city walking tours

🔝

Miscellaneous Hobbies

  1. Astrology/astronomy
  2. Billiards
  3. Couponing
  4. Creating DIY home products
  5. Fantasy sports
  6. Genealogy
  7. Ghost hunting
  8. Hair styling/braiding
  9. Hula hooping
  10. Juggling
  11. Keeping up with the latest fashions
  12. Kite flying
  13. Learning magic tricks
  14. Makeup application
  15. Metal detecting
  16. Model building
  17. People watching
  18. Pumpkin chucking
  19. Storage unit auctions
  20. Sunbathing
  21. Unicycle riding
  22. Yard sale shopping/thrifting

🔝


hobbies

Sources:


20 Professional Development Ideas for Counselors

20 professional development ideas for counselors, social workers, and other mental health specialists

Professional development encompasses all activities that provide or strengthen professional knowledge/skills.

Ongoing professional development is a requirement for mental health practitioners in order to maintain competency and for keeping up-to-date on the latest research and evidence-based practices in an ever-changing field.

This is a list of ideas for counselor professional development.


Professional Development for Counselors

1. Find a mentor (and meet with them regularly). A mentor can provide guidance and support. They’ll help you grow by sharing their own experiences and expertise. A mentor can also help by talking through challenges and helping you to stay motivated when you’re discouraged.

2. Sign up for relevant e-mail lists. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest research, treatments, training opportunities, and resources in the counseling field.

Here are a few email lists that I find informative and helpful for professional development:

3. Become a member of a professional organization (e.g., American Counseling Association). This provides opportunities for advocacy and for networking. Membership benefits may also include free CE trainings or subscriptions to professional journals.

4. Keep up-to-date on the latest research. If you are a member of a professional organization, take advantage of your member benefits, which may include access to professional journals. You can also browse sites like ScienceDaily or use an app like Researcher.

5. Facilitate professional trainings or manage a booth at a conference. Share your professional knowledge with others by leading a training or hosting a webinar. Alternatively, consider offering to help manage your agency’s booth at a professional convention.

6. Read counseling and psychology books (such as On Being a Therapist by Kottler or Mindsight by Siegel). Reading up on relevant topics in the field will help to ensure that you’re using effective and evidence-based treatments in your practice. Reading can be especially helpful to the new counselor who struggles with imposter syndrome or questions their abilities. Psychology books can also help counselors deepen their understanding of the human mind and behavior.

7. Practice self-awareness. Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one’s own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It helps you to know your values, limitations, and personal biases as well. Self-awareness is important for recognizing how your own “stuff” may impact your work with clients. It may also help you to build stronger relationships. What’s more, by being self-aware, you can identify the early signs of burnout and take steps to prevent it.

8. Become familiar with local resources in your community. By learning about the available resources in the community, you’ll be better able to assist your clients with some of their case management needs.

9. Volunteer. Help out at a homeless shelter or a local food bank, pick up trash in your neighborhood, or visit with residents at a nursing home. If you have a special skill such as knitting or baking, consider using your talents to help others.

10. Join a professional counseling forum and participate in discussions. The ACA has several. You could also go the reddit route (i.e. r/psychotherapy).

11. Review your professional code of ethics on a regular basis. (Here’s the code for professional counselors: ACA Code.)

12. Attend webinars, trainings, and conferences. Stay informed by subscribing to email lists, participating in professional forums, and searching Eventbrite for local events for professional development. (For Eventbrite, enter “mental health” in the search box.) PESI is another resource for professional development, but the seminars can be costly.

13. Network/consult. Make it a point to network with other professionals that you meet at work or professional conferences.

14. Subscribe to psychology magazines like Psychology Today or Psychotherapy Networker. Reading about relevant topics in the field will help you to stay sharp.

15. Further your education by taking classes or earning a certificate. Consider specializing in something or enhancing your skillset.

16. Pick a different counseling skill (such as reflecting meaning or the ’empty chair’ technique) to strengthen each week. (You can even use flashcards to pick a new skill or simply review!)

17. Write an article or book (or book review!) If you’re gifted at writing, share your expertise with others by publishing an original work. If a writing a book or article is too much of an undertaking, consider writing book reviews or reviewing products online.

18. Take free online courses. There are plenty of sites and institutions that offer free classes. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your professional knowledge or learn new skills.

19. Listen to podcasts (like Therapy Chat or Counselor Toolbox). If you prefer listening over reading, podcasts are a highly convenient way to grow professionally.

20. Practice self-care on a regular basis to prevent burnout. Why is self-care included in a post on professional development? Because self-care is crucial for counselor wellness. A counselor experiencing burnout may even put their clients at risk. Self-care is essential for professional development.


professional development

15 Sites with Helpful Resource Lists

(Updated 5/4/20) A list with links to other sites’ resource pages

This is a list of links to resource pages for wellness, mental illness, addiction, and self-help. (For resources posted on Mind ReMake Project, click here.)


15 Sites with Helpful Resource Lists

Community Resources (ADAA) | From the Anxiety and Depression Association of America

DISCOVER AND RECOVER: Resources for Mental and Overall Wellness | A blog with tons of resources

Expert Resources from JED and Others | Resources for teens and young adults

Find Resources (CADCA) | An extensive searchable resource list from CADCA (for substance use disorder-related resources)

Free Mental Health Resources | A list compiled by blogger Blake Flannery (last updated 2015)

Links (Sidran Institute) | From the Sidran Institute

Links to Other Empowering Websites | From the National Empowerment Center

Mental Health and Psychology Resources Online | A list of online resources from PsychCentral

Mental Health Resources for Therapists and Clients | From the blog: Info Counselling – Evidence based therapy techniques. Compiled/last updated 2017.

Mental Health Resources List | A fairly comprehensive list. Updated 2018.

Resources | Resources for child sexual abuse

Resources (Veto Violence) | A searchable resource database from Veto Violence (a CDC organization)

Self-Injury and Recovery Research and Resources | Resources for those who self-injure, their loved ones, students, and health professionals

Sites We Like | From S.A.F.E. Alternatives – Resources related to self-harm

Veteran Resources | A resource list from Lifeline for Vets (National Veterans Foundation)


Post your suggestions for resource links in a comment!

resource lists