Hannah’s Healing Reads 📚✨

Reading is more than just a hobby—it’s a form of self-care, a bridge to empathy, and a quiet, but powerful ally in mental health. Whether you’re navigating therapy, living with a mental health condition, or simply looking to understand yourself better, picking up a book might be one of the best steps you can take. And the best part? It’s accessible, affordable, and always ready when you are.

Reading can be a form of escape, a way to reduce stress and improve sleep, normalize your experiences, and be a powerful supplement to therapy. The more we resource ourselves with different or even similar experiences to our own, we expand our empathy and understanding both for ourselves and others. When we read, we are implicitly and subconsciously being open to listening and accessing compassion. Exercising this “muscle” of openness is key in any therapeutic healing journey and you can think of reading almost like hopping on the treadmill in between your therapy sessions.

It can be hard to know where to start, so I’ve listed a few of my favorites that have been helpful for myself and others…

Staring at the Sun by Irvin D. Yalom: This book invites you to reflect on the reality of mortality and the anxiety that often accompanies it, offering an opportunity to explore how we can live more fully by confronting our fears and finding meaning in our lives.

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo: Stephanie Foo’s memoir offers an intimate exploration of the long-lasting impact of trauma and PTSD, sharing her journey toward healing, understanding, and reclaiming her sense of self from the scars of her past.

Don’t Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety from a Zen Buddhist Monk by Shunmyo Masuno: In this book, the author offers practical, Zen-inspired tools to help manage anxiety, inviting us to embrace mindfulness, simplicity, and acceptance as ways to bring peace into our daily lives.

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown: This read delves into the human need to meet our goals and set expectations for ourselves and when we take that skill beyond our limits. No matter what your background, there is something in this book for everybody that will resonate and provide some comfort amidst chaos. It’s also a great one to reread during times of stress or burnout just as a gentle reminder tool for yourself!

How to Hug a Porcupine by Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis: Dr. Ellis provides guidance on how to navigate relationships with difficult individuals, drawing on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy to foster greater understanding and healthier, more compassionate interactions.

Whether it’s self-help, fiction, poetry, or any other kind of genre, give yourself permission to connect in a time where it’s getting increasingly harder to do so. And remember: sometimes the right book finds you when you need it most!

Looking for a space to grow and start your path to healing? Call us at (443)-718-4096 or visit www.bwellcounselingservices.com/ to schedule an appointment today!