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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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.

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