These Therapist-Approved Books Can Help You Deal With Anxiety, Burnout, And More

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While books are usually an escape from everything happening in the ~real world~, reading can also be a great way to feel more understood and learn about mental health.

Believe it or not, the act of reading itself is helpful for improving mental health, says Amber Robinson, LMFT, a licensed psychotherapist based in Los Angeles. Why? Because it involves you pausing your day and the activities on your chaotic to-do list and helps you slow down. Learning something new can also help with your self-confidence, improve your memory, and boost your brain health, she adds.

Need a book rec? Here's a list of favorites, hand-picked by psych experts. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, trauma, burnout, grief, or something else, there's a mental health book for everyone on this list.

If you or someone you know is experiencing extreme distress, you can call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, use the Crisis Text Line, which is a free way to connect with a crisis counselor 24/7, or call 911 for emergency medical services.

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Eckhart Tolle does a great job teaching the reader to separate themselves from their thoughts, says Amber Robinson, LMFT, a licensed psychotherapist based in Los Angeles. She recommends this book to people with anxiety because it teaches them to be present, to live in the now, and the damages that overthinking, ruminating, and toxic thought patterns can have.

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life

“This book is written by two psychologists, and is my go-to for healthy boundary setting,” says Melissa Boudin, PsyD, LPC, a licensed psychologist and clinical team leader who specializes in communication issues, depression, relationships, self-esteem, and social anxiety. “The book uses the author's experiences to demonstrate the importance of deciding on personal limits and setting boundaries, and gives clear examples of why and how to do this in a healthy way."

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

Feeling burned out? You're definitely not alone. “As women, we historically take on too much,” says Robinson. “In this book, the authors encourage the reader not to overextend themselves, not to add more to destress, but to actually take away some of the things we are doing. We are made to feel like we have to be so many things to so many people, but maybe we just need to focus on one thing or to actually sit down and just take a break.”

Getting to know burnout can also help you identify your own warning signs and ensure it doesn't happen again, she adds.

Living Untethered: Beyond the Human Predicament

If you want to learn more about depression, this is a good place to start. The author illustrates symptoms, such as exhaustion and negative self-talk, and how they can impact your energy patterns, says Robinson, who's a big fan of this book.

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

A New Earth has been called the most important book of our generation by Oprah, and Robinson agrees. “It is one of those books you can read over and over again, and each time you receive a needed message from the text,” she says. “Eckhart Tolle walks the reader through awakening, consciousness, ego, pain, pride, resistance, and so many challenging life experiences. It prioritizes and teaches inner peace in a way that only Tolle can.”

Where the Crawdads Sing

“This is one of the best books I have read in the past few years, and I highly recommend it to readers of fiction,” says Michele Goldman, PsyD, a licensed psychologist and the media advisor of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation. This book touches on how childhood trauma influences the main character Kya’s relationships later on in life, her longing to be accepted, to belong and connect, to be seen and understood. These are poignant themes that many can relate to in their own lives.

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

This book is full of information on the power of self-compassion, including countless research findings, examples of the utility of self-compassion, and helpful exercises to try it out for yourself, according to Chloe Greenbaum, a licensed psychologist, the founder and director of Premier Psychology Group, and an adjunct professor at NYU. “Neff’s relatable writing style and integration of research can make self-compassion appeal to even the most cynical skeptics,” she says. This is a great resource for people who have anxiety, depression, perfectionism, or boundary issues.

Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief

This book is written by Joanne Cacciatore, PhD, a bereavement educator, researcher, and leading counselor in the field of grief. “She shares the stories of many of her clients, and how they found healing through their own unbearable journey through the depths of grief,” notes Robinson.

Although everyone's grief looks different and there is no right or wrong way to mourn, reading about others' pain can help you feel seen. And that can be just what you need when grief leaves you feeling isolated, she says.

Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression

Although this book was first published in 1998, Goldman says the message is timeless. “This memoir introduces us to the world of a Black woman struggling with depression. It powerfully shows the intersectionality of what it means to be Black, female, and have a diagnosed mental illness in a world where the expectation is to be strong, a caregiver, and nurturer to others. It speaks to stigma within communities and how that perpetuates challenges of asking for help,” she explains.

It powerfully showcases the depths and darkness that accompany depression as well. “For those struggling with depression, Danquah’s words will feel accurate and relatable. She also highlights the importance of self-care, while speaking about the role of courage and vulnerability in the healing process, and the possibility of light at the end of the tunnel,” notes Goldman.

The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship

This is a great foundational book on relationships, says Robinson. “Many of us believe love lives in extremes," she says. "Many of us have seen relationships play out in chaos and we mistake that for love, but love lives in peace and that is exactly what Don Miguel Ruiz teaches in The Mastery of Love.”

Man's Search for Meaning

Man's Search for Meaning is Frankl's story of being imprisoned in two concentration camps in Nazi Germany. He lost his family, but went on to pen this masterpiece on spiritual survival through his trauma.

“This is a book about finding meaning in life," says Robinson. "When one survives trauma, finding meaning in life is hard, but it is important.”

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

David D. Burns, MD, gives science-backed tips to relieve anxiety, procrastination, and other general negative feelings in this book. It can help you label what causes mood swings, build your self-esteem, and deal with negativity.

"This book is a classic that has probably been read by at least 90 percent of psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors because it is so insightful, practical, and beneficial for clients," says Randy Schroeder, PhD, a marriage and family counselor and the author of Simple Habits for Marital Happiness.

The Family Guide to Getting Over OCD: Reclaim Your Life and Help Your Loved One

“This is a perfect guide for family members who have loved one’s who struggle with OCD," says Kevin Chapman, PhD, a clinical psychologist and the founder and director of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. "This practical guide provides cogent 'do's and dont's' to assist family members of OCD sufferers while providing a thorough understanding of the disorder itself."

Anxiety Relief for Teens: Essential CBT Skills and Mindfulness Practices to Overcome Anxiety and Stress

If you have teenage children, this may be a smart book to pick up. “This book is a practical read for teenagers who struggle with anxiety," Chapman explains.

It specifically teaches cognitive behavioral techniques to help overcome anxiety, and they're "described in a way that is easy for your teen to understand and implement on a daily basis,” he continues. They can then take these lessons into the rest of their teen years and beyond.

Show Your Anxiety Who's Boss: A Three-Step CBT Program to Help You Reduce Anxious Thoughts and Worry

This book spells out a simple, three-step CBT program for helping reduce anxiety, including how to respond to anxious thoughts and redirect them. “Dr. Joel Minden provides relatable case examples in addition to practice techniques to manage anxiety and worry,” Chapman explains.

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

"As a psychologist, I would say [this book] helps people to increase their self-efficacy through simple behaviors that make them feel empowered and organized," says Chloe Carmichael, PhD, a New York–based clinical psychologist and WH advisor. "That can actually have a surprising effect on your mood and your sense of control throughout your day."

Nervous Energy: Harness The Power Of Your Anxiety

Carmichael's book targets anxiety in an untraditional way. "I don't think that there are a lot of books that are looking at the healthy function of anxiety and trying to teach people how to use it in more of an empowered way that is not necessarily a disease-based perspective," she says.

Her book discusses the three most common nervous energy profiles and nine different ways to use your nervousness or anxiety to be productive. She also shares real-life stories of how people have overcome their nervous energy using these tools.

Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself

"People who are interested in self-improvement oftentimes take on a lot of personal responsibility in relationships and in life in general, and that's a good thing," Carmichael says. "But the downside to it is that they can sometimes take on too much responsibility for others."

With this book, readers can learn how to be less codependent.

Make Time: How To Focus On What Matters Every Day

On your phone and computer way too much? *Raises hand* This book "talks about all kinds of ways that we can reconfigure technology so that we have more time," says Carmichael, adding that it can help readers learn how to change their relationship with tech and other scheduling hacks.

The Emetophobia Manual

If you struggle with a fear of vomiting, also known as emetophobia, this is a "powerful read," Chapman explains. Ken Goodman, LCSW, includes a ton of exercises to help face the fear of throwing up, as well as panic attacks. “This book is comprehensive and Ken does a great job combining science with practice from a cognitive behavioral perspective," he adds.

How To Choose A Mental Health Book

When choosing one that'll be helpful for you, Robinson recommends paying attention to the tone. “Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*** is going to read much differently than Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth. Both are great books, but both may not appeal to the same audience,” she explains.

You'll also want to look for a medium that works for your lifestyle, says Carla Marie Manly, PhD, a clinical psychologist, author, and speaker. Do you prefer an audio format, an eBook you can leaf through during your commute, or a physical copy that you can hold in your hands? And of course, if the book is addressing what you're interested in, you'll be more likely to stick with it to the end. Are you curious about anxiety or burnout, need guidance on navigating depression, or want advice on building boundaries?

Another important element to search for is exercises that can help you reinforce what you've absorbed. “Change is far more likely to manifest if you deeply process what you are reading via actual exercises,” Manly says. This way, you are not just taking in new information, but you also have the opportunity to apply it.

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