A Therapist-Approved Reading List for Well-Being
February 12th 2025
At Living Bridges Therapy Collective, we believe that healing, growth, and self-discovery don’t just happen in therapy sessions—they can also unfold in the pages of a book. Books have the power to challenge our perspectives, help us make sense of our experiences, and offer practical tools for living a more intentional and fulfilling life.
That’s why we asked some of our Kamloops counsellors to share a book they personally recommend—one that has made a lasting impact on their work, their clients, or their own journey. Whether you’re looking for insights on relationships, stress management, trauma, or self-acceptance, this reading list offers something valuable for everyone.
1. For Stronger, Healthier Relationships
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman
- Recommended by: Cristela D’Elia
Relationships take work, but that work doesn’t have to feel impossible. Dr. John Gottman, a world-renowned relationship expert, has spent decades researching what makes marriages succeed or fail. In The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, he distills his findings into practical strategies that couples can use to build connection, improve communication, and navigate conflict with greater understanding.
Cristela recommends this book to everyone—not just those in a marriage. She says that while The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work offers strategies to build stronger relationships, its insights go beyond just marriage. It’s helpful for all relationships in life—whether with colleagues, friends, or family. “Just being able to figure out better communication skills, as well as how to resolve conflict in a more effective manner, really helps people to reconnect with each other and have a better relationship,” she explains.
If you’re looking to strengthen your relationships—romantic or otherwise—this book is a must-read. In Cristela’s words, this is a book that “Everyone should read this year.”
Watch Cristela’s recommendation video: Facebook Video
2. For Understanding Yourself and the World Around You
- The Myth of Normal and Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté
- Recommended by: Sarah Widmer
Dr. Gabor Maté is known for his profound insights into trauma, mental health, and the ways in which our society shapes our well-being. Sarah Widmer highly recommends his work, saying, “Anything by Gabor Maté, I highly recommend… it’s an amazing read.”
She specifically highlights The Myth of Normal and Scattered Minds as must-reads. The Myth of Normal challenges the idea that our fast-paced, achievement-driven society is a "normal" or healthy way to live. Instead, it reveals how many modern ailments—both mental and physical—are actually rooted in stress and disconnection. Meanwhile, Scattered Minds offers a compassionate and deeply researched exploration of ADHD. “I love the way it addresses ADHD,” Sarah says.
But the impact of Maté’s work goes even deeper: “It’s about looking at all the intergenerational pieces and all of the ways our life experiences shape us and affect the way we make choices and the things that we do in our life.”
Watch Sarah’s recommendation video: Facebook Video
3. For Preventing and Recovering from Burnout
- Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
- Recommended by: Tara Caffelle
Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but burnout doesn’t have to be. In Burnout, sisters Emily and Amelia Nagoski explain how chronic stress impacts our bodies and minds—and, more importantly, how we can break free from the cycle.
Tara Caffelle believes this book should be on everyone’s reading list: “I think this book should be required reading for everybody,” she says. She particularly appreciates the way the authors address the ways burnout disproportionately affects women. “They talk about the insidious ways, especially women, end up in a burnout cycle.”
But Burnout isn’t just about recognizing stress—it’s about actively working through it. “They explain how we can help the stress to leave our bodies, leave our lives,” Tara explains. “It’s a really fascinating resource for everybody, for women in particular, to not get burnt out.”
If you’ve ever felt exhausted despite doing ‘all the right things,’ this book might offer the breakthrough you need.
Watch Tara’s recommendation video: Facebook Video
4. For Deepening Your Connection to Your Body
- The Wisdom of Your Body by Hilary McBride
- Recommended by: Tennille Phipps
So many of us go through life feeling disconnected from our bodies—whether due to societal messages, past trauma, or simply the pressures of daily living. In The Wisdom of Your Body, psychologist Hilary McBride invites us to reclaim the deep wisdom that lives within us and to see our bodies as a source of intuition, healing, and power.
Tennille Phipps recommends this book because of its focus on embodiment and self-awareness. The author does “a lot of work around how we connect with our body and how we tune into our body's messages to us,” she explains. “We're not connected, we're not aware. We try and talk about being mindful, but sometimes it can be really hard to know how to do that. That's what this book is about.”
She also appreciates how the book connects embodiment with both emotional and neurological well-being. “It’s about how being connected with ourselves, aware, and mindful helps us neurobiologically as well as emotionally and in connection with ourselves.” If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with yourself and your body, Tennille says, “This is a really great book on how to connect with ourselves.”
Watch Tennille’s recommendation video: Facebook Video
Find Your Next Read
Books can’t replace therapy, but they can be powerful companions on the journey to self-understanding and healing. Whether you’re looking to improve your relationships, navigate stress, deepen your self-awareness, or reconnect with your body, the books recommended by our Kamloops counsellors offer meaningful insights and tools.
Which of these books resonates with you? We’d love to hear your thoughts! And if you’re looking for personalized support, our team at Living Bridges is here to walk alongside you.
