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Psychological Tools

• Rewire Your Anxious Brain — Catherine M. Pittman & Elizabeth M. Karle

• Are You Mad at Me? - Meg Josephson:
  This book explores the hidden cost of people-pleasing, reframing it as a trauma response—known as fawning—rather than just a personality quirk. Through stories, research, and exercises, Josephson shows how constantly seeking approval can keep us stuck in roles like the caretaker, perfectionist, or peacemaker.
  

• Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder / DBT Skills Training Manual — Marsha M. Linehan (A big, hefty book, but so many useful parts — truly accessible and practical for life. It has worksheets you can take or leave as you wish. Useful for anyone who struggles with emotional regulation and anxiety/impulse control.

• The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills Paperback – 12 Feb. 2022 by Sonny Jane Wise (Author) (the lighter version of the above)
  

• The Happiness Trap — Russ Harris (ACT, very accessible, an illustrated version exists)
  

✨ Identity, Body & Healing

• Unmasked: The Politics of Being Autistic — Ellie Middleton (accessible and full of tips)

• The Autists: Women on the Spectrum — Clara Törnvall (Beautiful book, but written from a very specific geography and female experience).

• The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk. (Heavy going, but with some wonderful, practical advice in Chapter 13 onwards. Those with trauma or PTSD or very physical symptoms of stress can benefit greatly from this book or audiobook).

• Rewire: Break the Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts and Create Lasting Change Hardcover – Nicole Vignola (This book helps us understand what neuroscience can tell us, and explains how it is possible to literally rewire our brain, as it is always changing and forming. Something tangible for those who like something more concrete and less abstract)

• Building a Life Worth Living — Marsha M. Linehan (memoir + wisdom, really wonderful for those of us who wonder why, how or in fact what is the reason we feel so strongly in this life)
  

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🌿 Politics of Joy & Care

• Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good — adrienne maree brown (useful for boundaries or testing sexual politics, the power of pleasure!)

• Emergent Strategy — adrienne maree brown (companion to Pleasure Activism - could help with climate anxiety)

• Rest is Resistance — Tricia Hersey (The Nap Ministry — healing through rest, something we all have to learn is how to rest!)

🎧 Mental Health & Psychology

• Hidden Brain — NPR; stories + science on why we do what we do. (Each episode is informative and I find them quite meditative)

• The Psychology of Your 20s (Jemma Sbeg) — navigating identity, relationships, work, mental health in early adulthood (so useful and simple to digest, advice for all stages of life imo)

• Therapy for Black Girls (Dr. Joy Harden Bradford) — mental health + self-care with cultural relevance.

• Unlocking Us (Brené Brown) — vulnerability, courage, emotional literacy. (heavy topics and experts).

• Where Should We Begin? (Esther Perel) — real couples’ therapy sessions (fascinating, the stories of others can be very effecting and changing for us!)