Recommended Reading List
                 

Foundational Understanding of Trauma & Mental Health

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These provide a solid framework for understanding how trauma affects the mind and body.

• The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk
  A cornerstone text on trauma and PTSD. Explains how traumatic experiences reshape the brain and body, and why healing often requires more than talk therapy.

• Trauma and Recovery – Judith Herman
  A classic, compassionate exploration of PTSD, especially related to abuse and interpersonal violence. Still highly relevant.

• What Happened to You? – Bruce D. Perry & Oprah Winfrey
  Very accessible and human-centered. Shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to understanding lived experience.

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Understanding Self-Harm (Non-Judgmental, Educational)

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These focus on why people self-harm and how to respond with empathy.

• Self-Injury: Psychotherapy with People Who Engage in Self-Harm – Barent Walsh
  Clinically grounded and practical, helpful for professionals and informed supporters.

• A Bright Red Scream – Marilee Strong
  A well-researched exploration of self-harm from psychological, cultural, and personal perspectives.

• Healing Self-Injury – Janis Whitlock & Elizabeth Lloyd-Richardson
  Focuses on recovery, harm reduction, and understanding self-injury as a coping mechanism rather than “attention-seeking.”

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PTSD & Complex Trauma (Including Childhood Trauma)

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• Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving – Pete Walker
  Especially helpful for survivors of long-term abuse or neglect. Clear explanations and practical tools.

• The PTSD Workbook – Mary Beth Williams & Soili Poijula
  A structured, gentle resource that helps readers understand symptoms and coping strategies.

• Waking the Tiger – Peter Levine
  Introduces somatic (body-based) approaches to trauma healing in an accessible way.

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Abuse, Power, and Control

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These help readers understand abuse dynamics and survivor experiences.

• Why Does He Do That? – Lundy Bancroft
  A clear explanation of abusive behavior patterns and power dynamics. Useful for survivors and supporters.

• The Emotionally Abusive Relationship – Beverly Engel
  Excellent for identifying less visible forms of abuse and understanding their psychological impact.

• Visible Bruises – Rachel Louise Snyder
  Explores domestic abuse through research and survivor stories, showing why leaving is complex.

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Recommended Reading for Students

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Coping With Counsellor Training

1. Keep Breathing: A True Journey of a Counsellor in Training – Lily Rose
   An honest, lived-experience account of the emotional, personal, and relational challenges of training. Particularly valuable for helping students feel less alone and normalising struggle, vulnerability, and growth during training.

2. The Gift of Therapy – Irvin D. Yalom
   Gentle, reflective guidance from an experienced therapist. Reassures trainees that uncertainty, self-doubt, and learning through mistakes are part of becoming a counsellor.

3. Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself – Kristin Neff
   Essential reading for trainees who experience perfectionism, imposter syndrome, or emotional overload. Offers evidence-based tools for coping kindly with self-criticism.

4. On Becoming a Person – Carl Rogers
   A foundational text that supports personal development alongside professional identity. Encourages authenticity, congruence, and trust in the therapeutic process — including one’s own.

5. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle – Emily & Amelia Nagoski
   Practical and accessible guidance on managing stress and emotional exhaustion, highly relevant for students balancing training, placement, and personal life.