Looking for more books to help you better understand yourself and others? Check out this diverse collection of books therapists recommend. These self-help books, therapy books, memoirs, and more will help you on the road to personal growth, discovery, understanding, and healing as you explore the depths of human behavior and mental health issues.
💁 In this guide, you'll find out more about the following therapy-recommended books:
- Unmasking Autism by Devon Price
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
- It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine
- The Myth of the Untroubled Therapist by Marie Adams
- Permission to Come Home by Jenny Wang
- The Year I Met My Brain by Matilda Boseley
- Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Why read therapist-recommended books?
Licensed mental health professionals tend to have more rigorous standards than the rest of us for what qualifies as a mental health-related book worth recommending. Of course, mental health professionals are not a monolith, so opinions may vary. But, in general, the following list of books therapists recommend are either written by professionals in mental health or by journalists who've reported with integrity.
All of these therapist-recommended books cover a variety of topics that will help clients and therapists alike learn something new about the human experience, feel seen themselves, and/or learn a new way to approach the world.
Let's explore together.
1. Unmasking Autism by Devon Price
This accessible introduction to the concept of “masking” is a groundbreaking work that mixes research, lived experience, and practical tools for building an empowered autistic life — all from the perspective of social psychologist Devon Price, an autistic person who was diagnosed later in life. Masking refers to the all-too-common habit of autistic people hiding their identifiably autistic traits in order to get by and attempt to fit into our neurotypical world.
Why should therapists & clients read this therapist recommended book?
This book should be required reading for everyone. Compared to allistic people, autistic people are six times more likely to attempt suicide — and up to seven times more likely to die because of it. More autistic people need access to higher quality healthcare from therapists who get it, and more therapists reading this book is one step in that direction.
Neurotypical therapists will especially benefit from Dr. Price's work. Therapists can use this book as a valuable resource for supporting neurodivergent clients in their journeys through navigating this neurotypical-dominant world while honoring and expressing their unique strengths and needs.
2. Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
There is only this moment. How deep is your awareness of it? A classic self-help book for daily mindful living, Wherever You Go, There You Are makes the concept and practice of mindfulness meditation accessible and actionable in everyday life.
Why should therapists & clients read this therapist recommended book?
This book by Jon Kabat-Zinn can help both therapists and their clients navigate the world in more grounded ways through the powers of mindfulness.
3. It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine
Subtitled “Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand,” this book by psychotherapist and grief educator Megan Devine is a deeply kind, empathetic, and validating exploration of grief. It ditches the common trite language around “moving on” from grief, and instead offers tender, practical advice about how to cope with living with grief.
Why should therapists & clients read this therapist recommended book?
This book is recommended for anyone facing grief who desperately needs someone to give them permission to feel what they're feeling without “fixing” it, while also offering guidance on how to survive it. As everyone has or will face grief at many points in their lives, mental health clinicians of all kinds can benefit from considering this perspective on grief in their practice.
4. The Myth of the Untroubled Therapist by Marie Adams
Anyone who personally knows a therapist knows that they are just as susceptible to the challenges of life and mental health as their clients are. And yet, there's a persistent myth that therapists are somehow immune to the same sorts of troubles as their clients. This important book investigates the lives of dozens of therapists, looking at the different ways trained professionals approach their own mental health — and how their personal lives affect their work with clients.
Why should therapists & clients read this therapist recommended book?
Therapists will feel validated by this eye-opening book, and appreciate the call-to-action to prioritize their own mental health as an important step toward being able to provide even better care for their clients. This book could also help clients gain valuable insight into the personal challenges faced by mental health clinicians.
5. Permission to Come Home by Jenny Wang
Clinical psychologist Jenny Wang writes from the underrepresented intersection of Asian American identity, mental health, and social justice. In her book Permission to Come Home: Reclaiming Mental Health as Asian Americans, Wang combines her personal narrative with nuanced evidence-based clinical insights into the complex issues that impact the mental health of Asian Americans.
Why should therapists & clients read this therapist recommended book?
Largely due to cultural stigma around mental healthcare, Asian Americans are 50% less likely to seek mental health services, compared to other racial groups. Mental health professionals of all backgrounds should read this book to learn more about this issue and how to advocate for systemic change in healthcare accessibility for Asian Americans who do choose to seek care.
6. The Year I Met My Brain by Matilda Boseley
This is the story of one journalist's adult ADHD diagnosis and her journey to understand her brain. Full of well-researched insights into adult ADHD, as well as her own personal story, this engaging book is a great read for adults with ADHD — and everyone else, too.
Why should therapists & clients read this therapist recommended book?
The insights and practical tips in this book will help ADHD therapists and adult ADHD clients feel seen and understand their own ADHD brains more deeply.
7. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Popular psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb gives readers a candid, illuminating look into the therapeutic process from both the therapist and client perspectives. This book serves as a reminder of the shared humanity within the therapeutic space, and gives rare insight into the therapy sessions and case studies of a therapist who is also a patient.
Why should therapists & clients read this therapist recommended book?
This book can help both new therapists and clients gain valuable insights into the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship and empathize with the challenges they both face.
FAQ | Books Therapists Recommend
Why is it useful to read books therapists recommend?
A book recommendation from a licensed therapist tends to be based on their professional judgment, which ensures the book's content aligns with current standards for mental health literature. Reading therapist-recommended books can offer readers of all kinds an eye-opening range of perspectives and topics. These reading experiences can contribute to ongoing learning, deeper empathy for ourselves and others, and new ways of approaching life.
What are some therapist-recommended books about neurodivergence?
- Unmasking Autism by Devon Price
- The Year I Met My Brain by Matilda Boseley
What are some therapist-recommended books about mental health?
- Permission to Come Home by Jenny Wang
- It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
What are some great therapist-recommended mental health books written by psychotherapists?
- The Myth of the Untroubled Therapist by Marie Adams
- Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
What's Orchid anyway?
Hi there! Orchid is an affordable all-in-one private practice management platform that prioritizes the success of mental health clinicians.
If you're curious about finding a therapist or running your practice on Orchid, you can learn more about us and our mission here: Orchid FAQ
If you're looking for more mental health book recommendations, check out: 71 of the Best Books for Therapists.
Ada Peng
Ada Peng is a spatial data analyst and Chief AI architect at Orchid. Before joining Orchid, Ada honed her skills as an engineer at HNTB. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ada is actively engaged in the tech community, organizing AI and healthtech meetups in San Francisco and New York. While pursuing her dual master’s degree in City Planning and Urban Spatial Analytics at UPenn, Ada founded the Urban Studies Workshop, showcasing her commitment to fostering innovation and leadership.