Five Books Every New Therapist Should Read

I look back fondly on my days of being a fresh-faced therapist, despite the severe imposter syndrome and constant questioning of my own decisions. Looking back, I wish I would have cherished that time more, as each day was a beautiful emotional roller coaster. I learned and grew at such a rapid rate, which was exciting despite the anxieties of being a newbie. I remember that first year or two feeling like a lifetime, whereas now the days and years fly by.

During that period, I was armed with a great education and internships. But I was lacking real world experience, as well as modalities and concepts to anchor myself to when sessions grew stagnant. Of course, as time went on, I grew through time on task with client facing hours, specialized training, and supervision. However, in addition to those things, there have been a few books that have been critical in shaping my development and world view as a therapist, further enhancing my work with clients. Though I frankly would not change a thing, it is hard for me to not to think about how much better off I would have been early on if I had read these books sooner. As a clinical supervisor who has overseen graduate level interns, I wanted to provide some tools for both grad students, and developing therapists. I will always remember my first years in the field and be sympathetic to clinicians who are now going through the same experience, and this week’s post is my attempt to pay it forward!

The following books were instrumental in helping me become the therapist that I am, and I’m hopeful that they can provide therapists, and self-development junkies alike some concepts to ponder.  

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Steven Covey

There are so many self-help books out there, but to me, this is still the gold standard of them all. Covey covers a wide range of topics in this book that are applicable to our everyday lives, including effective communication, personal management, and personal accountability. There is something in this book for everyone. A couple of concepts that stuck with me in reading this book were beginning with the end in mind, seeking first to understand before seeking to be understood, and the idea that we cannot keep promises to others before we’ve learned how to keep promises to ourselves. This has been deeply beneficial to me personally, and for my clients as well.

The Body Keeps Score, by Bessel van der Kolk

Trauma has become a word that is commonly used in everyday conversations but is not always accurately described or understood. This is one of the best and most comprehensive books on the topic, and is written in a way that blends complex research with real world accounts and is digestible for readers. Additionally, it explores many of the different treatment options that are available for trauma related disorders. Regardless of the setting you work in as a therapist (clinical or not), it is impossible to avoid the impact of trauma on the various populations that we serve. This book is in-depth enough to give clinicians a baseline worldview of trauma, and is also a great educational tool for our clients. 

Dopamine Nation, by Dr. Anna Lembke

This is a great read on the basics of addiction. Lembke gives a lot of insight on how addiction works in our brain, namely our dopamine receptors. The book also gives practical strategies for curbing our own addictions or addictive behaviors. Of course, it is no substitute for comprehensive training for addiction, but it can give us a headstart on baseline knowledge that can deepen our understanding of our clients' experience related to addiction. Nearly 20% of adults in the US currently report an issue with substance abuse, so a world view in this area definitely comes in handy for clinicians. 

The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work, by John Gottman

Again, there is no substitute for proper training, and I would strongly advise any therapist interested in working with couples to go through formal training prior to doing so. Nonetheless, the Seven Principles is a great way for new clinicians to deepen their knowledge of couples work, and even potentially gauge their own interest in furthering their own knowledge. Additionally, it is a great book to recommend to either couples, or even individual clients that are seeking to improve their romantic relationship. 

Thriving as a Therapist, by Megan Gunnell

By the time I had gotten my hands on this book, I had already started my own practice and was a ways down the road. I remember thinking how valuable it would have been for me to have read this prior to doing so, as the book truly gives a step-by-step roadmap for how to get started in private practice. Additionally, it gives therapist tips for how to scale their practice at the appropriate time, and even offers insight and tips for expanding our work outside of purely client facing sessions. She discusses things like groups, courses, and retreats. It is a fantastic place for a therapist who is thinking of going out on their own to start, and Gunnell even has a chapter dedicated to mindset shifts that are helpful when making this transition. 

Regardless of where you are in your career, or self-development journey, I hope you find these books useful to you. Let me know what you think!

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maxsturm@ascendtherapyllc.com

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/max-sturm-howell-mi/1150307

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