I have included a list of some of my favorite books
for clients and those seeking personal growth. This
list will be expanded as I add reviews to many of
the books that I find influential or enlightening.
I’m trying to include a variety of books because
I believe that there are many pathways to growth and
change. What works for one person might not for another.
In line with my theoretical approach to counseling,
I encourage you to put some of the strategies and
principles contained in these books to action. If
what you are doing in life currently is not getting
you what you want, you must do something different.
Start small…even a little change can have a
ripple effect that serves as a catalyst for growth.
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I had two people, within a three week time
span and completely independently of one another,
tell me that this is one of the best books that
they had ever read. When something like that happens,
you listen. I must say that this book lived up
to my extremely high expectations, and I will
count it as one of the most influential books
that I have ever read. What can be better than
tapping into the Dalai Lama’s profound wisdom
on how to live a happy life? Well, what was even
better was that Dr. Howard Cutler, a psychiatrist,
worked collaboratively with the Dalai Lama on
the creation of this book. He interviewed the
Dalai Lama on numerous occasions and asked him
the “big” questions about how to handle
anxiety, grief, self-hatred, find fulfillment,
etc. He would then take the wisdom of the Dalai
Lama’s answers and support it with research
findings from psychology as well as from his own
experience and psychiatry practice. One aspect
that I particularly like is the Dalai Lama’s
contention that the cultivation of positive qualities,
such as compassion and patience, can directly
counteract negative qualities such as hatred,
egotism, and anxiety. It is amazing how well critical
aspects of Buddhism, positive psychology, mindfulness,
and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) overlap.
One thing that it shows me is that different disciplines
such as psychology, religion, and philosophy often
point to the same “truths” about how
to find happiness in this lifetime. When many
different paths lead to the same destination,
I believe that it’s time to make a journey
to that destination. I have directly endorsed
this book to many friends, colleagues, and clients.
Buy it, read it, reflect upon it, and then begin
implementing some of it in your own life. |
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This book is considered a classic among the
numerous parenting books on the market. Faber
and Mazlish take their wealth of experience as
mental health practitioners, mothers, and parenting
experts and create this extremely useful book.
Although “How to Talk…” has
been in print for many years now, its utility
has in no way diminished over time. It seems particularly
useful for parents of toddlers and children. You
might be tempted to quickly read the whole book
through within a day or two, but it would be best
to focus on one chapter at a time and then try
to implement some of the strategies described
before moving to the next chapter. The authors
organized the chapters in a workbook-like fashion
to encourage you to practice the skills that you
are learning. Also, they use many cartoon vignettes
to illustrate how to use the parenting/communication
skills. Like any other skill, refining the language
and strategies that you use with your kids definitely
takes practice. This book will undoubtedly expand
your repertoire of effective parenting and communication
skills. |
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In this provocative and accessible book, Dr.
Glasser introduces his Choice Theory within the
first two chapters and then uses case studies
to illustrate how it can be used to assist parents
in their relationships with their teenagers who
are experiencing various types of difficulties
(e.g., depression, drug addiction, anger, anorexia,
friction with their parents). I find his case
studies fascinating, which make Dr. Glasser’s
book an enjoyable, compelling read. Although I
do not agree with everything Dr. Glasser proposes,
he provides a philosophical approach as well as
practical suggestions that can help parents and
teachers improve their relationships with teenagers.
I have found Reality Therapy (Dr. Glasser’s
therapeutic approach based on Choice Theory) to
be beneficial in my practice and have used Choice
Theory successfully in my own life to improve
my relationships with others as well as my general
perspective on life. (Note: This book was formerly
titled “Unhappy Teenagers.”) |
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A client actually recommended this book to me,
so I followed his advice. Mr. Tolle teaches readers
how to unlock the “power of now” and
makes his case using logic, philosophy, spirituality,
and theology. In a nutshell, Mr. Tolle eloquently
explains the undeniable truth that we only live
in the now and that when we focus our awareness
on things that happened in the past or what may/may
not happen in the future, we are missing out on
the richness of the present moment. It reminds
me of the line in the Carly Simon song “Anticipation”
when she sings, “These are the good old
days.” Moreover, focusing on the past or
future tends to create a discontent within us
(e.g., longing, sadness, regret, guilt, anger).
We gain much power and wisdom when we learn to
embrace the truth that we only live in the present
moment. Of course, there is more to the book than
my synopsis, but part of the appeal of “The
Power of Now” is in the way in which Mr.
Tolle conveys this message. Although he gets a
little “out there” at times as he
conjectures about issues, such as the nature of
psychological and spiritual pain, I believe there
is a lot to learn (and relearn) within this book.
It might help you to actually stop and smell the
roses…but read his book first. |
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Dr. Brooks is a member of the following organizations:
The American
Psychological Association
The
Texas Psychological Association
The
Capital Area Psychological Association
The Association
for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy
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