[skycastle]

Have any of you ever asked for book recommendations from your therapists? If so, how did your therapist respond? What books did (s)he recommend? Did you read them?

I'm thinking about asking for a couple of recommendations from mine so I can do some reading over the holiday break. I think its so I can feel connected and grounded even when I go a while without seeing her. When I get upset, it's usually helpful to know that I'll talk with her soon because I can feel like the upset feeling isn't permanent because clearly I'm working on my issues with her and she'll help me. I am starting to trust her (after 2+ years!) and I definitely trust her advice and the helpful, positive things she says about me, and I think if I can read books she recommends then it would make me feel more connected to her and the helpful stuff she has said to me in the past. So, maybe I won't emotionally spiral as much over the break, AND as a bonus, I can keep actively working on stuff even though I'll be on a break.

I think the topics I'm most interested in are spirituality, assertiveness, healthy relationships and boundary setting, and managing job stress. I'm not sure if I'll tell her that or not. I'm embarrassed to ask because it seems like a really childlike thing to want. Also, what if she says no?! Ack. But part of me thinks this is actually a totally reasonable, healthy, and proactive choice. I hope I'm brave enough to bring it up.

[BlessedRhiannon]

My T has recommended several books to me...I've never actually asked her, but she knows I like to read, so she's suggested a few titles. I have read them, and found it helpful.

My T usually suggests books that she thinks will help me gain a better understanding of myself, or show that I'm not alone in how I feel.

[sweepy62]

Originally Posted by skycastle

Have any of you ever asked for book recommendations from your therapists? If so, how did your therapist respond? What books did (s)he recommend? Did you read them?

I'm thinking about asking for a couple of recommendations from mine so I can do some reading over the holiday break. I think its so I can feel connected and grounded even when I go a while without seeing her. When I get upset, it's usually helpful to know that I'll talk with her soon because I can feel like the upset feeling isn't permanent because clearly I'm working on my issues with her and she'll help me. I am starting to trust her (after 2+ years!) and I definitely trust her advice and the helpful, positive things she says about me, and I think if I can read books she recommends then it would make me feel more connected to her and the helpful stuff she has said to me in the past. So, maybe I won't emotionally spiral as much over the break, AND as a bonus, I can keep actively working on stuff even though I'll be on a break.

I think the topics I'm most interested in are spirituality, assertiveness, healthy relationships and boundary setting, and managing job stress. I'm not sure if I'll tell her that or not. I'm embarrassed to ask because it seems like a really childlike thing to want. Also, what if she says no?! Ack. But part of me thinks this is actually a totally reasonable, healthy, and proactive choice. I hope I'm brave enough to bring it up.

i dont have to ask my t because she knows i like to read so she tells me what books to read that she thinks will help so far i have read healing the innerchild, codependant no more, i could never happen to me, and just today she told me to read i hate you please dont leave as an assignment

[unaluna]

An author I really like is Anne Katherine. She has written a few books I find really speak to me. "Where to Draw the Line: How to Set Healthy Boundaries Every Day" is one of her two books on boundaries, avail on amazon. She has also written on self-sabotage and food addiction. I think she has a practice in the US Pacific Northwest. I wanna be like her when I grow up!

[skycastle]

Well this is kinda cool to know that other people get book recommendations from their Ts My idea isn't THAT odd!

My T has recommended books before, and sometimes she'll lend me one of hers. Often she'll want to lend me a book, but finds she no longer has it as another client hasn't brought it back, so I'll look the suggested book up on amazon to see if it looks like a good read. I haven't always agreed with my T's choice in reading material, though - some of the authors I find a bit 'out there' - and I say so (I'm a tad cynical sometimes...)

[stopdog]

The one I see has some objection to me reading books on psychotherapy (not novels as far as I know - although from her lack of ability to recognize literary allusion, she may not have read any herself) but I know she has lent books to other clients, so I do not think it is odd in the least to ask one for book recommendations. She has asked me if I have read a book twice - one was on animals and the other a horrible true crime sort of thing with csa. I had read the one on animals and not the other. I was not certain what the point in either was to anything in my life and attempts to clarify were met with no success.

[CantExplain]

I did ask for a recommendation once, but it turned out not to be such a good read.

I've never asked my T for book recommendations; he just recommends books to me because he knows I'm a reader. One of the books he recommended was excellent. Another one he recommended -- not so much. A couple others I actually never read.