I’m sometimes asked whether there are any books I’d recommend. I thought I’d share a few that you may also enjoy.
And yes, the photo really does show all the books currently stacked beside my bed!
Some I’ve finished reading, some I’m part way through, others I refer to when needed, and some I haven’t started at all yet. I love reading and try to make time for it each evening before I go to sleep.
Some of these books were recommended to me while I was studying for my Diplomas in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy or through clinical supervision. Others are books I’ve discovered since that have been useful to me personally and/or professionally.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, and I’m always discovering new books to add to my ever-growing reading pile, but these are some I’ve particularly enjoyed or found useful. Some also introduce or reinforce concepts that we discuss in sessions, so they can be helpful if you’re having, or thinking about having, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy with me.
Here are a few of the books on my bedside cabinet…
A User’s Guide to the Brain – Dr John Ratey
We often refer to one of Dr Ratey’s metaphors when explaining how the brain works in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. He explains the brain’s most important systems, the role they play in determining how we interact with the world, and ways in which we can influence them for the better. This book is a comprehensive yet accessible guide that explores the inner workings of the brain, providing valuable insights into how we think, feel and behave.
Dopamine Nation – Dr Anna Lembke
This book explains how our brains balance pleasure and pain, and why the modern world’s endless stream of instant gratification (smartphones, junk food, social media, alcohol and other addictive behaviours) can leave us feeling unsatisfied, anxious and low. It also offers science-backed ideas for breaking unhelpful habits and restoring a healthier balance.
Why We Sleep – Matthew Walker
This book explores sleep as one of our most important biological needs. It explains the different stages of sleep, why they matter, and the profound impact sleep has on our physical health, mental wellbeing, memory and learning. It also includes twelve practical tips for improving sleep.
The Dose Effect – TJ Power
Written by neuroscientist TJ Power, this book combines neuroscience with practical everyday habits. It’s structured around four key brain chemicals (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins) which play an important role in our motivation, mood, relationships, energy and ability to manage stress.
It discusses how modern life, with constant digital stimulation, sleep disruption and busy lifestyles, can throw these systems out of balance, contributing to overwhelm, low mood, reduced confidence, burnout and loneliness. It offers a framework for helping to rebalance these chemicals through relatively simple changes.
Rewire Your OCD Brain – Catherine Pittman & William Youngs
This practical guide presents neuroscience-based strategies to help manage obsessive thoughts and anxiety. It helps readers understand the brain processes involved in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder while offering evidence-based techniques to reduce symptoms.
Interoception: How I Feel – Sensing My World from the Inside Out – Cara Koscinski
Written by children’s occupational therapist Cara Koscinski, this book explores sensory processing and the importance of interoception – our ability to sense what’s happening inside our own bodies.
Interoception plays a vital role in understanding our emotions and regulating our body’s basic functions. When someone experiences difficulties with interoception, recognising emotions and managing physical sensations can become much more challenging. The book contains lots of practical activities that can be used by both adults and children to improve interoceptive awareness.
The Myth of Normal – Dr Gabor Maté
This thought-provoking book explores the connection between mind and body. It considers how many of the challenges we experience in modern life, including chronic illness, addiction and mental health difficulties, may be understandable responses to the environments and cultures we live in.
Dr Maté encourages a compassionate, trauma-informed understanding of why symptoms develop, while also exploring ways to reconnect with authenticity and personal agency.
How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body – David R Hamilton
David Hamilton explores the mind-body connection and discusses the effects of visualisation, belief and positive thinking on our physical health. He explains how our imagination and mental processes may support the body’s own healing responses and includes a large collection of guided visualisation ideas for a variety of difficulties.
Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person – Cathy Wassell
This is a handbook for parents and carers of autistic pre-teens and teenagers. It promotes a strengths-based approach, encouraging readers to move beyond focusing solely on difficulties and instead support a positive autistic identity, understand sensory needs and embrace children’s interests and passions.
Be Who You Want: Unlocking the Science of Personality Change – Dr Christian Jarrett
This book challenges the idea that our personalities are fixed. Drawing on psychological research, it explains how personality traits can change throughout our lives and offers practical, evidence-based exercises to help create lasting positive change.
And of course there is a book about Labradors as I own (and love) one!
Please note that these recommendations are shared because I’ve found them interesting and helpful. They reflect the authors’ individual perspectives and shouldn’t be taken as medical advice.
I hope you enjoy these books and find them interesting and helpful if you decide to read them yourself.
If this article resonated with you and you’d like to find out more about Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, or you’d like to arrange a Free Introductory Call, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
