Recommended Reading Library

A faith based perspective on common roadblocks couples face. This is a great resource for engaged couples and tackles myths about marriage, expectations, spiritual intimacy and more.

An honest telling of his personal journey through the grief process after losing his wife to cancer. It is a short read, but so very valuable.

Codependent No More by Melody Beattie is a fantastic book and relatable for many readers. The author speaks from personal experience and research on issues surrounding codependency, alcohol/substance abuse, self-sacrificing, roles in family of origin, and more. It is an empowering read on how to pursue healing for oneself. -Check out my post The Codependency Coaster for my favorite quotes from this book!

A more challenging read, but excellent resource to better understand how trauma affects the brain and body.

A wonderful exploration on what it means to be vulnerable. A must read for valuing and effectively engaging in emotional intimacy.

A classic that is actually good (in my biased opinion). My favorite quote from the book is, "One of the sweet uses of adversity is the genuine satisfaction which comes from hearty work of head or hand; and to the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the world."

A historical fiction book about Jeju Island's Haenyeo divers.  It is an incredible story of tragic trauma, resilience, friendship, and forgiveness. (This one is GOOD!)

Written and illustrated like a children's book, but is really applicable for all ages (I have even read this with adult clients). It is the most beautiful display of what grief and loss look like and includes helpful tips and resources on the ending pages.

A book I would recommend to fellow clinicians. It is a great tool for discovering ways to serve clients who have experienced affairs. It also categorizes the different types of affairs with specific intervention recommendations for each type. 

This book holds two of my favorite aspects found in novels- 1: historical fiction (this novel takes place during both World Wars) and 2: multigenerational (this novel travels through three different generations and brings you back to present time)

This read is a 40 day devotional that a client gifted to me when we closed our work together, so I want to pay it forward and recommend it to you. This is my favorite devotional book I've read (so far).  If you are looking for a good contextual-scripture-based-devo- look no further!

Would it really be a library without these? If you haven't read them-read them!

This book was written by Viktor Frankl who was a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. The first half of the book describes his experience at Auschwitz and other concentration camps. The second half of the book explores his theory Logotherapy. This book is an insightful and empowering read on how life has meaning even in the most miserable and atrocious circumstances. Please look for my post on my favorite quotes from this book!

This was the first book I read from Lisa See (I have enjoyed every one of her books, so if you have a chance check them out!) This book is about nineteenth century China and details the practice of foot binding while taking you through history through the lens of two friends.

Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend is a hugely popular book, and for good reason. This book is a wonderful introduction to the importance of boundaries, how and when to set boundaries, biblical principles that support boundaries, what boundaries look like in different contexts, and more!

This read records a part of history that I was unfamiliar with- American internment camps.  It's an interesting book about two friends who meet at an internment camp in the 1940s.

Trigger warning: This book shares details of sexual and physical violence that may be triggering for some readers.

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Another historical fiction based on the true life of Louise de Bettignies, a WWI woman spy.  A harrowing and unforgettable read!

This book travels in time from war torn Leningrad (present day Saint Petersburg, Russia) in 1941 to the year 2000.  It's a book about doing unthinkable things to survive war, weathering loss, and the peculiar ways loss can connect people together.