Books to Guide the Soul
a space to explore & expand your mind
The Body Keeps the Score
Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk details his experience working with survivors of trauma over three decades and all the lessons he has learned. The Body Keeps the Score helps you understand how trauma impacts the brain and what you can do to help you brain and body heal. This book explains how survivors of trauma have reduced capacities for experiencing pleasure, trust, and engagement due to the impact on the brain. If you are looking for a scientific based exploration of trauma as well as evidenced-based healing tools, you will find all that and more in the Body Keeps the Score.
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
If you’re looking for a witty, funny, and insightful read, this is the book for you! Allie Brosh’s book contains full color illustrations that deal with mental health, coping skills, and vignettes on everyday life. Mental health struggles such as depression and anxiety can feel isolating, and Allie Brosh seeks to accurately portray these in a relatable and honest way.
The Emotionally Absent Mother
Psychotherapist Jasmin Lee Cori explains both the reasons why your mother may have been absent or hurtful as well as how to heal those wounds from childhood. Cori details some of the impacts of neglect and abuse from childhood and points toward a different future you can secure for yourself and your family. Included in the book are exercises and reflection questions to help you along this process of healing.
Everything Happens For a Reason (And Other Lies I've Loved)
Kate Bowler seemed to have it all. She was a professor at Duke Divinity School, married, and enjoying life with a newborn. An unexpected diagnosis of stage IV colon cancer flips her life upside down. Bowler realizes she has been implementing the prosperity gospel and toxic positivity. Through her journey, she shares the struggle of finding the beauty of life in the midst of suffering, pain, and death.
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
This book is for those who struggle to believe they are worthy of love, acceptance, and belonging. Brené Brown dives into what it means to live authentically and free yourself from the prison of perfectionism. This book has practical exercises along with every chapter to help guide you on your journey of self-acceptance and self-discovery.
Love Warrior: A Memoir
In this memoir, Glennon Doyle shares her story of betrayal, infidelity, and redemption. From a place of rock bottom, Doyle rebuilt her life and found a deeper love and sense of self. Doyle found, as she states, that, “The dirt and divine are so often inseparable.” The vulnerability and honesty of Doyle’s story has a lesson for each of us in how to use our pain as fuel and find redemption for ourselves and our relationships.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
This fictional young adult novel follows the story of Julia and her sister Olga. Olga followed the mold of the “perfect Mexican daughter” and when she dies in a tragic accident, Julia is left to pick up the pieces and try to find healing within her family. Julia ends up discovering that her sister may not have been as picture perfect as she thought and she scrambles to make sense of it all and find her role within her family.