This is a list of 50 fun and creative gift ideas for therapists in 2022.
(See 50 Unique Gift Ideas for Therapists for last year’s top picks or for an updated list, see, 50 Unique Gifts for Therapists in 2023!)
Disclaimer: Some posts contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
GIFTS UNDER $10
1. BIC Gel-ocity Gel Pen Set
Every therapist needs a set of quality pens. These gel pens are great for taking notes, color coding, and staying organized in the office.
2. You Are a Badass® Talking Button: Five Nuggets of In-Your-Face Inspiration
Amazon: “In her refreshingly blunt #1 New York Time’s bestseller, You Are a Badass, Jen Sincero served up hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, and the occasional swear word, all with the goal of helping readers reverse self-sabotaging behaviors and create a life they love. You will love this badass kit, which includes an 88-page mini abridgement of Sincero’s irreverent guide and a Badass Button for your desk, kitchen, or bedroom that spouts inspiring messages in Sincero’s own voice. It’s the perfect anytime reminder that ‘You are a badass!'”
3. Mental Health Stickers
A 100-piece set of mental health awareness stickers.
4. Stone Stacking: Build Your Way to Mindfulness
This mini desktop calming kit includes:
- 9 hematite stones
- Beechwood tray
- Bag of sand
- 32-page book on the art of stone stacking
5. Couch Business Card Holder
What comes to mind when you hear the term psychotherapy? Lying on a couch and recounting the details of a dream you had while being psychoanalyzed by a man who silently takes notes? This sofa-shaped business card holder is the perfect gift for any therapist or psychologist, regardless of their theoretical orientation!
6. Sunflower Starter Grow Kit
A sunflower grow kit for the therapist with a green thumb!
7. Memory Foam Wrist Rest & Mouse Pad Cushion
A highly-rated 2-piece set from Gorilla Grip; available in other colors too!
8. ‘Lets Taco Bout It’ Sticker
The perfect gift for the therapist in your life who loves tacos. For more taco-themed therapy stickers and gifts, check out what Etsy has to offer. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Couch taco sticker
- ‘Taco ’bout it with Your Counselor’ badge holder with clip
- ‘Therapists help you taco bout it’ shirt
- ‘Wanna Taco ‘Bout It?’ confidentiality sign
9. Glitter Wand
A fun prop for asking variations of “the miracle question.” (You may be unfamiliar with this concept, but every counseling grad student or master’s-level counselor knows the miracle question!)
10. “What the F*ck Is My Password?”
A bawdy password tracker for the bawdy therapist in your life.
11. Mini Art Therapy Coloring Kit
Amazon: “From the bestselling international coloring book series, Color Yourself Calm. Creating beautiful art can be a positive and relaxing experience. This kit includes 10 colored pencils and 50 illustrated cards with detailed designs to complete. Lift your mood and focus your mind – no drawing skills required!”
12. Motivational Words Wall Decal
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” Easy to peel and stick vinyl; perfect for the office, group room, or classroom.
13. ‘Make It Happen’ Notepad
A fun, 50-sheet pad for creating daily to-do lists.
BOOKS & EDUCATIONAL GIFT IDEAS FOR THERAPISTS
14. Psychology Today Subscription
Psychology Today publishes content written by clinicians, experts and researchers from across the fields of behavior and psychology. It is the original and largest publishing enterprise that is exclusively dedicated to human behavior. The magazine has received numerous awards for both editorial and design, and is published six times a year.
15. Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)
It’s here! The long-anticipated revised text of the DSM-5 arrived this year, and it includes a new diagnosis – prolonged grief disorder – as well as new diagnostic codes for suicidal behavior, plus much more. Every therapist needs a copy of their own!
16. Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-5-TR
If the DSM-5-TR isn’t in your budget, consider this handy, spiral-bound desk reference for a third of the price.
Amazon: “The Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-5-TR is a concise, affordable companion to the ultimate psychiatric reference, DSM-5-TR. It includes the fully revised diagnostic classification, as well as all the diagnostic criteria from DSM-5-TR in an easy-to-use format. This handy reference provides quick access to the information essential to making a diagnosis. Designed to supplement DSM-5-TR, this convenient guide will assist all mental health professionals as they integrate the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria into their diagnoses.”
17. Pocket Psych Drugs
A handy spiral-bound guide to serve as a quick reference on psychotropics, including various classes and their side effects.
NOVELTY GIFT IDEAS FOR THERAPISTS
18. Jar of F*cks
A jar of f*cks to give. (Buy on Amazon, or even better, DIY with a mason jar and wooden cutouts!) This is the perfect tool for illustrating the concept of how in life, there are only so many things we can give a f*ck about – it’s important to figure out which ones matter the most. (A great companion to the #1 New York Time’s bestseller, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life.)
19. Sigmund Freud’s Oral Fixation Lip Balm
“So you have chapped lips. Stop blaming your mother.” Freudian slips… and eucalyptus… for the lips! Oral fixation lip balm with all natural ingredients.
20. Brain Bookends
A must-have for the brainy, book-loving therapist!
21. Famous Male Psychologists Magnets
Set of 7! (Alternatively, consider this tote bag for $15.00 on Amazon that pictures famous female psychologists as well as male.)
22. Dinosaur Therapy: THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
Amazon: “A wistful, honest and highly relatable account of modern life. Dinosaur Therapy is a book of cartoons for grown-ups from the very successful web comic @dinosandcomics. In each comic, dinosaur characters grapple with questions around the meaning of life and mental health, trying to make sense of the world and cope with their own place in it.”
23. Sigmund Freud Bust Succulent Planter
More Freudian fun!
24. Psych Experiments: From Pavlov’s Dogs to Rorschach’s Inkblots, Put Psychology’s Most Fascinating Studies to the Test
Amazon: “Guided by Michael A. Britt, creator of popular podcast The Psych Files, you can conduct your own experiments when browsing your favorite websites (to test the “curiosity effect”), in restaurants (learning how to increase your tips), when presented with advertisements (you’d be surprised how much you’re influenced by the color red), and even right on your smartphone (and why you panic when you can’t find it). You’ll even figure out how contagious yawning works!”
25. Funny Pavlov’s Dog Psychology Mug
Microwave and dishwasher safe! (Alternatively, consider this ‘Don’t Make Me Use My Therapist Voice’ mug for $19.95 on Amazon.)
THERAPY TOOLS & GAMES
26. The Live Your Values Deck: Sort Out, Honor, & Practice What Matters Most to You
An Amazon bestseller! “Living your values increases your compassion, reduces your stress, enhances your confidence, and allows you to experience more intimacy in your relationships. These 78 cards offer you a practical set of tools for determining your core values and practicing them in your daily life. Start off with a simple sorting exercise, then dive deeper into your highest values with the prompts and activities listed on each card.”
Free a free DIY set of values cards, click here.
27. Toss ‘n Talk-About Anger Management Ball
A 24″ inflatable ball that features questions, quotes, and positive affirmations to help clients to open up; this therapy tool inspires new ways of thinking about coping with anger. (Alternatively, you may want to consider the Toss ‘n Talk-About Addiction Ball for $22.99 on Amazon.)
28. Me Magnets
A tool for exploring identity, personal values, personality traits, and characteristics.
29. Social Emotional Game for Kids
Amazon: “Help young kids talk about their own feelings and learn to empathize with others. This learning faces toy is fun to play with and a great conversation starter. Children can play independently, recreate a story, or describe their own feelings.”
30. Recovery BINGO! Game for Adults
Great for group therapy. Includes laminated game cards, calling cards, chips, reproducible handouts, and instructions. (Wellness Reproductions & Publishing also offers bingo kits for coping skills, stress management, social skills for teens, and more. If you’re looking for something fancier, check out The Coping Game from Wellness Reproductions & Publishing for $59.95 on Amazon.)
31. GIANTmicrobes Deluxe Brain with Plush Neurons & Neurotransmitters
An adorable plush brain with neurons and neurotransmitters for illustrating how mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD disrupt mental functioning.
Also available from GIANTmicrobes: Depression Plush for $13.95, Anxiety Plush for $13.95, Dopamine Plush for $15.95, and Serotonin Plush for $15.95.
32. “Which Would You Choose?”
A fun icebreaker activity for groups. Perfect for the therapist who works in a hospital or residential setting, or who does group therapy. “This cute, compact tin is filled with 50 hilarious and thought-provoking questions asking players to choose between two equally good, unpleasant, or absurd scenarios.” (Alternatively, consider Googling “would you rather” scenarios and make your own cards or worksheets!)
For 24 free DYI icebreaker cards to print and cut, click here.
33. Totika Therapy Game Cube
Amazon: “Includes one Totika Therapy Game Cube and six decks of Totika question cards, each deck with 150-188 questions, prompts and scenarios for a total of more than 1,000 interventions. The Early Childhood Social Emotional card deck is for ages 4-7 and the Teen-Adult Principles/Values card deck is for ages 13 to adult. The Anger, Resilience, Bullying, and Icebreakers cards are for ages 8 and up.”
34. Kinetic Sand Kalm
Amazon: “With 2 pounds of kinetic sand and 3 tools, immerse yourself in a soothing and mesmerizing sensory experience! This fidget box is perfect for stress relief – play, relax and unwind!”
35. A Little SPOT of Emotion 8 Plush Toys with Feelings Book Box Set
Amazon: “This set is a companion to the bestselling books ‘A Little SPOT of Emotion Books Box Set!’ This set comes with a newly released hardcover special edition ‘A Little SPOT of Feelings‘ book with all 8 Emotion plush toys! The PLUSH TOY EMOTIONS included are: Anger, Anxiety, Peaceful, Sadness, Happiness, Love, Confidence and Scribble (Tangled). The book included features a bonus mirror in the back of the book along with a FEELINGS POSTER that is printed on the inside of the dustjacket. The poster and mirror were added to help children identify facial expressions.”
OFFICE ACCESSORIES & DECOR
36. 3-Tier Relaxation Tabletop Fountain
Currently on my own Amazon wish list! Both soothing and decorative, a great addition to any office space. (Hint: Watch the price on this one! While working on this post over the course of a few days, the price increased from $22.99 to $29.70 and has since decreased to $19.94.)
37. ‘What You Say In Here Stays In Here’ Canvas Wall Art
For a cheaper version, create your own sign using Canva – then print and frame! Alternatively, try making a sign with sticker letters from Dollar Tree.
38. Mini Label Maker
A mini label making machine for the therapist who loves staying organized! (Another item to watch for price changes; it went from $30.59 to $36.99 in one day. Now it’s only $19.99. Alternatively, there are plenty of cheap label makers that also have high ratings on Amazon.)
39. Himalayan Salt Lamp Bowl with Natural Crystal Chunks
Amazon: “Himalayan salt lamps give your home, business, store or lounge a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere. Not only does it help enhance the mood, its amber glow gives the ambience a special interior design experience.”
40. Therapy Office Desk Décor: Things I Can Control
Amazon: “This desk décor item will remind you to focus on what you can control and stop worrying about things you can’t control. Perfect office décor for any psychologist, counselor, social worker, teacher, or therapist!”
41. Cinema Style Light Box
Perfect for creating your own inspirational message to display in the office! (Click here for a mini version for only $10.40!)
42. Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer
The perfect space-saving Keurig for any office for the coffee-loving therapist!
43. Wheel of Emotions Pillow Cover Set
Great for the office or waiting area! You may also want to consider these wheel of emotions coasters for $26.98 on Amazon.
44. LectroFan High Fidelity White Noise Machine
A highly rated, #1 bestseller on Amazon; this white noise machine is perfect for protecting privacy and minimizing disturbances in the office.
WELLNESS & SELF-CARE GIFTS TO PREVENT BURNOUT
45. Stress Less Card Deck
Amazon: “This unique Stress Less Cards deck contains 50 extremely effective exercises to help you relieve stress and deal with anxiety whenever you need it the most. Easy for everyone to use, these powerful techniques can be quickly memorized and used in any situation; on the bus, at work, at your desk, while queuing at the supermarket or before going to bed at night. These exercises are designed to stop that stress reaction and help you relax.”
Alternatives to consider: Stress Less and Self Care Cards and Empowering Self Care Questions. (Or, if you’re feeling creative, create your own deck of self-care cards or design a self-care calendar for 2023!)
46. BodyRestore Shower Steamers
The #1 bestseller in bath bombs, 12 aromatherapy shower steamers in citrus scents to revitalize and restore.
47. Only Good Vibes Positive Thinking Jar
Amazon: “This gift is an encouragement not only to believe in oneself more, but to do more and be more of what you want to be in your life. Love yourself, embrace yourself and never stop moving forward.”
For a free DIY set of inspirational quote cards, click here.
48. Deodorant Wipes
50 individually wrapped wipes for feeling clean and refreshed throughout the day! (For the “man’s man” counselor, consider these Dove Men+Care Deodorant Wipes for $12.99 on Amazon as an alternative.)
49. Anxiety Blob
This adorably anxious blob goes with the book, Affirmations for Anxiety Blobs (Like You and Me): Gentle Thoughts to Keep You Centered, Focused and Hopeful for the Days Ahead. A perfect gift for the anxious therapist in your life.
50. Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager
Another one from my own Amazon wish list. It’s a little pricey, but top-rated! “The massage chair utilizes innovative 2D/3D finger pressure shiatsu, rolling, compression, vibration and heat functions to provide you an omni comfortable massage to the back like a spa massage.”
What are some of your unique gift ideas for therapists? Post in a comment!
