Our Favourite Books
These books are loved by our Therapy Team and all come highly recommended.
Vanessa Birch works with adults and youth…and high are her list of favourite books are these two which she often recommends to clients and friends alike.
“The Body Keeps The Score” by Bessel van der Kolk
“Decolonizing Trauma Work” by Rene Linklater
Some of Adam Masood’s favourite books that he recommends to clients include:
Jesslet Siluvairayan is one of the Registered Counsellors on our team. She works with adults, couples, children and youth.
She highly recommends:
“The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness” by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal & Jon Kabat-Zinn
Wendy Monks-Janzen is a Registered Psychologist (Prov) on our team. She works with adults, couples, children and youth.
Wendy uses all of the books she’s recommended below in client sessions and finds them to be extremely effective.
For Children:
“Empathy Workbook for Kids: 50 Activities to Learn About Kindness, Compassion and Other People’s Feelings” by Hiedi France
“Executive Functioning for Kids: 40 Fun Activities to Build Memory, Flexible Thinking and Self Control Skills at Home, in School and Beyond” by Dr. Sharon Grand
“Worry Workbook for Kids: 50+ Fun Activities to Reduce Stress, Change Your Mindset, and Embrace Your Life” by Lauren Mossback
“Anxiety Relief Workbook for Kids: 40 Mindfulness, CBT, and ACT Activities to Find Peace from Anxiety and Worry” by Dr. Agnes Selinger
For Teens & Parents of Teens:
“The Mindfulness Workbook for Teen Self Harm” by Biegel & Cooper
“Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens” by Alvord & McGrath
“The Self Compassion Workbook for Teens” by Karen Bluth
“The Self Esteem Workbook for Teens” by Lisa M. Schab
“Conquer Your Fears & Phobias for Teens” by Andrea Umbach Kettling
“The OCD Workbook for Teens” by Jon Hershfield
“The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens” by Jennifer Shannon
“The Gender Quest Workbook” by Rylan Jay Testa, Deborah Coolhart and Jayme L. Peta
“The Insomnia Workbook for Teens” by Micael A. Tompkins and Monique A. Thompson
“The Grit Guide for Teens” by Caren Baruch-Feldman
“The DBT Skills Workbook for Teen Self Harm” by Sheri Van Dijk
“Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens” by Sheri Van Dijk
“The Anger Workbook for Teens” by Raychelle Cassada Lohmann
“The Executive Functioning Workbook for Teens” by Sharon A. Hansen
“The Perfectionism Workbook for Teens” by Ann Marie Dobosz
“The Anxiety & Depression Workbook for Teens” by Michael A. Tompkins
“Beyond the Blues” by Lisa M. Schab
“The Worry Workbook for Teens” by Jamie A. Micco
“The Panic Workbook for Teens” by Debra Kissen, Bari Goldman and Kathi F. Abitbol
“The Body Image Workbook for Teens” by Julia V. Taylor
“The ADHD Workbook for Teens” by Lara Honos-Webb
“The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers” by Gary Chapman
For Couples:
“The 5 Apology Languages” by Gary Chapman & Jennifer Thomas
“Reconcilable Differences: Rebuild Your Relationship by Rediscovering The Partner You Love Without Losing Yourself” by Andrew Christiansen, Brian B. Doss & Neil S. Jacobson
“How To Be An Adult In Relationships: The 5 Keys to Mindful Loving” by David Richo
For Adults:
“Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts” by Sally M. Winston & Martin N. Seif
“How To Carry What Can’t Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief” by Megan Devine
“Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and how it can help you find and keep love” by Amir Levine & Rachel F Heller
Our Registered Psychologist Murray Heintz works with adults and couples.
He finds the following 2 books very helpful for clients working on their relationships.
“Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends” by Dr. Bruce Fischer and Dr. Robert Alberti
“Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict Into Connection” By Julie Schwartz-Gottman and John Gottman
Our Registered Counsellor Nancy Kearnan works with adults, couples, children and youth. Here are some of her favourite books:
“Couples Therapy Workbook: 30 Guided Conversations to Reconnect Relationships” by Kathleen Mates-Youngman
“The Mindful Way Workbook: An 8-Week Program to Free Yourself From Depression and Emotional Distress” by John Teasdale, Mark Williams, and Zindel Segal
Our Registered Psychologist (Prov) Jolissa Simon works with children & youth. Here are some of her favourite books:
“The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.
This book brilliantly simplifies complex neuroscience into easy-to-understand concepts, helping you nurture your child’s emotional and intellectual growth. The book centres around 12 practical strategies, real-life examples, and age-appropriate tips, as well as offering actionable tools you can start using right away. What I love most is its empowering and encouraging tone, reminding us that every interaction is an opportunity to help our children thrive. Whether you’re dealing with daily struggles or looking to deepen your connection with your little one, this book provides the insights and strategies you need. Happy reading, and here’s to nurturing those wonderful little minds!
“The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind and Body In the Healing of Trauma” by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk.
As a child psychologist, I’ve seen how trauma affects children and their families, and this book offers profound insights into healing. Dr. van der Kolk combines decades of research and clinical experience to explain how trauma impacts the brain and body, providing practical strategies for recovery. It has a holistic approach to healing and shows how important it is to understand the body’s physiological role in healing from trauma. This is a must-read for anyone looking to understand and support children and adults on their healing journey.
“In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts” by Dr. Gabor Mate.
I find Dr. Mate’s compassionate and deeply human approach to understanding addiction to be both eye-opening and transformative. In this book, he delves into the lives of those struggling with addiction, offering a heartfelt and empathetic exploration of the roots of their pain. What makes this book stand out is Dr. Mate’s ability to weave together personal stories, scientific research, and his own clinical experience to pain a comprehensive picture of addiction. He challenges the conventional views on addiction, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond the symptoms to understand the underlying trauma and emotional suffering. It is a must-read for anyone looking for a deeper understanding of addiction and mental health, and it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion in healing.
“Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood” by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D.
As a child psychologist, I’ve seen firsthand how understanding ADHD can transform a child’s life and the lives of those around them. This book does an incredible job of demystifying ADHD and offering practical strategies to help children thrive. “Driven to Distraction” combines insightful case studies, personal stories and the latest research to provide a comprehensive look at ADHD. The authors not only explain the science behind ADHD but also offer concrete advice on managing symptoms, building on strengths, and creating a supportive environment at home and school. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, this book is an invaluable resources that will help you better understand and support the children in your life with ADHD.
MORE BOOKS WE LOVE
“Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself” by Nedra Glover Tawwab
“How To Do the Work” by Dr. Nicole LePera
“The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk
“Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder” by Gabor Mate
“Attached” by Amir Levine
“The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work” by John Gottman
“The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman
“Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D & Amelia Nagoski, DMA
“Self-Compassion” by Kristin Neff
“Atlas of the Heart” by Brene Brown
“Feeling Good” by David D. Burns, M.D.
“Learned Optimism” by Martin E. P. Seligman
“The Anti-Anxiety Workbook” by Martin M. Antony & Peter J. Norton
“Success Principles” by Jack Canfield
“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown
“Daily Joy: 365 Days of Inspiration. Photos and Wisdom to Life Your Spirits” by the National Geographic Society
“Mind-Body Workbook for Stress. Effective Tools for Lifelong Stress Reduction and Crisis Management” by Stanley H. Block, MD & Carolyn Bryant Block with Andrea A. Peters
“The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself” by Michael A. Singer
“Playing Big” by Tara Mohr
“Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditiation In Everyday Life” by Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Feeling Good” by David D. Burns, M.D.
“Learned Optimism” by Martin E. P. Seligman
“The Anti-Anxiety Workbook” by Martin M. Antony & Peter J. Norton
“Success Principles” by Jack Canfield
“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown
“Daily Joy: 365 Days of Inspiration. Photos and Wisdom to Life Your Spirits” by the National Geographic Society
“Mind-Body Workbook for Stress. Effective Tools for Lifelong Stress Reduction and Crisis Management” by Stanley H. Block, MD & Carolyn Bryant Block with Andrea A. Peters
“The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself” by Michael A. Singer
“Playing Big” by Tara Mohr
“Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditiation In Everyday Life” by Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Raising Your Spirited Child: A guide for parents whose child is more intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent, and energetic” by Mary Sheedy Kurkinka
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families” by Steven R. Covey
“Simplicity Parenting: using the extraordinary power of less to raise calmer, happier, and more secure kids” by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross
“The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle
“Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel By Changing The Way You Think” by Dennis Greenburger, Ph.D. & Christine A. Padesky, Ph.D.
“The 5 a.m. Club: Own Your Morning, Elevate Your Life” by Robin Sharma