Recommended Reading & Free Downloads
Discover insightful books on mental health that we’ve found particularly helpful. Choosing the right book is personal, depending on individual needs and preferences. Based on the key counselling topics we address at PRC in Plymouth, we recommend the following as some of the most informative resources.
For understanding trauma and its effects:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
by Bessel van der Kolk:
Explores the deep connection between trauma, the brain, and the body. Offering evidence-based methods for healing, this essential read helps individuals understand and recover from trauma-related effects.
What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey
Examines the lasting effects of childhood trauma on mental and physical well-being. Through personal stories and expert insights, this book explores how early experiences shape emotional resilience and offers practical strategies for healing and growth.
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
by Gabor Maté, Daniel Maté
Challenges the conventional understanding of health and illness. Drawing on over four decades of clinical experience, Maté explores how trauma, stress, and societal pressures impact both physical and mental well-being. He critiques Western medicine’s tendency to overlook the whole person and offers a compassionate perspective on healing, connecting individual struggles to broader cultural influences.
For managing anxiety and stress:
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
by Edmund J. Bourne
Offers practical self-help strategies for managing anxiety and phobias. Covering relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy, this comprehensive guide provides effective tools for overcoming fear and stress.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
by Lori Gottlieb
Offers a unique perspective on therapy, blending the experiences of both therapist and client. Through personal stories and professional insights, this memoir explores mental health challenges, emotional growth, and the transformative power of therapy.
For self-compassion and self-acceptance:
The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brene Brown
Explores the transformative power of vulnerability, self-compassion, and authenticity in achieving emotional well-being. This inspiring book encourages readers to embrace imperfection and cultivate a more fulfilling, wholehearted life.
The Mindful Way Through Depression
by Mark Williams and John Teasdale
Introduces mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) techniques to prevent and manage depression. Combining scientific insights with practical exercises, this book offers a compassionate approach to cultivating emotional resilience and breaking negative thought patterns.
For navigating relationships and boundaries:
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself
by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Offers practical strategies for establishing healthy boundaries in both personal and professional relationships. This insightful guide helps readers navigate communication, self-care, and assertiveness to create a balanced and fulfilling life.
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--and Keep-- Love
by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller
Examines how attachment styles shape romantic relationships. This insightful book offers practical strategies for building healthier connections and improving relationship dynamics through a deeper understanding of attachment theory.
For memoirs and personal stories:
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
A heart warming novel about a socially awkward woman learning to connect with others. Exploring themes of isolation, loneliness, and self-acceptance, Eleanor's journey unfolds into a powerful story of personal transformation and emotional growth.
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
by Andrew Soloman
A Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of depression, blending history, science, and deeply personal narratives. This comprehensive work examines the cultural, medical, and social dimensions of mental illness, offering insight into its complexities and the paths toward healing.
If you are concerned about your mental health, reaching out to a qualified professional is essential. At Personal & Relationship Counselling in Plymouth, we offer access to experienced therapists who provide compassionate support. Book an appointment or schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see how we can help.
The New Male Sexuality
by Bernie Zilbergeld
A clear, comprehensive, and refreshingly realistic guide to male sexuality. Drawing on over 20 years of experience as a psychologist specialising in human sexuality, Zilbergeld explores key questions facing men today—and the women who love them. With expert insights and personal experiences, this book focuses on enhancing desire, shifting emphasis from performance to pleasure, and keeping sex exciting and fulfilling.
Overcoming Relationship Problems
by Michael Crowe
Offers practical solutions for navigating common relationship challenges, including financial strain, fidelity issues, emotional struggles, and the complexities of second marriages. Using proven therapeutic strategies from family therapy, this guide helps individuals and couples strengthen their relationships and build healthier connections.
Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure
by Robert de Board
An engaging introduction to counselling through the beloved character of Toad. Based on the author's 20 years of counselling experience, the book blends psychological insights with a compelling narrative, making it accessible for both students and professionals. Ideal for those new to therapy, it offers a relatable and thoughtful exploration of personal growth and emotional well-being.
Hot! Hot! Hot!: The Body Electric
by Anne Hooper
Struggling to achieve the sex life you've always dreamed of? Anne Hooper's Hot! Hot! Hot!: The Body Electric offers the solutions you've been seeking. Drawing from her acclaimed sex workshops, this groundbreaking book serves as both a realistic sex manual and an engaging journey. Described as "a seminal work," it redefines what a sex guide can be, empowering you to gain deeper sensual pleasure in your lovemaking.
Quiet the Mind
by Matthew Johnstone
Explores the profound benefits of meditation in a fast-paced world. Offering simple techniques to give the brain a well-deserved break, this book highlights how mindfulness can improve mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being.
Downloads
Feel free to download these guides for personal use:
Ready to Feel More Supported?
These resources are a supportive starting point—but healing is often most powerful when shared. If you’d like to talk with one of our experienced Plymouth-based counsellors, we’re here to listen. Get in touch for a free 15-minute consultation—no expectations, just a conversation.
Looking for more tailored support?
You might like to explore how we work with individuals on concerns like anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma, and addiction, or how we help couples strengthen communication and connection.
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