Does your therapist let you borrow books?

What kind of books have you borrowed? Have you ever borrowed one that was disappointing?

Not borrow (I have never asked and probably would not no matter what) but she has suggested about 3 and they have all been a disappointment.

Yes, I have borrowed a couple of books from him. I was not disappointed. I have bought a number of books he has suggested, again not disappointed.

Yes, my old T lent me a few books, they were theoretical books rather than self-help type book and i found them interesting.

One was about a lesbian and her mother, one was about kidnapping/csa, and one was by Brene Brown.

Yes, my T has let me borrow her books. One was about IFS (Internal Family Systems), and one was about EMDR, called Getting Past Your Past. She also lent me Yalom's fiction book, which some of us read for the social group's book club on PC. When I gave that back I told her not to display it in front because it was so awful!! I don't think she read it.

My T has lent me a number of books... some of them helpful, some of them not so much! The first book she lent me was by Louise Hay, and it was so polar opposite from everything I believed that I remember taking it back and being rather critical... at that point I wondered if therapy was for me, and if my T wasn't a little bit nuts if she bought into this stuff.

Interestingly the book I found most helpful that she had me read was 'The Way of the Peaceful Warrior', which is kind of a novel.. loosely based on the author's life. Just HOW loosly based on actual events being up to the reader to determine, I guess. But I found it strangely inspiring and memorable.

The most helpful/relevant books I have read have been via recommendations on here. 'In Session' by Deborah Lott, and 'The Emotionally Absent Mother' by Jasmin Lee Cori. Both of those books I have lent to T. The reviews are not yet in

Borrowing books is a good way to wreck a relationship.

The two best books I have read around therapy were The Dancing WuLi masters (recommended by the first therapist I ever saw) and a book I wish the therapist would read by Susan Clancy "The Trauma Myth"

The office where my T is at has books that one can borrow. I have not yet taken advantage of it, but I would like to. I kind of feel conspicuous looking at the books when others are around. I don't really know why it's a problem for me.

Ohh and the books that I have borrowed were THe courage to heal (which I still have) and another one about Christianity/psychology/philosophy.. It was a good book!

SD, can you remember the name of the book about the lesbian and her mother?

I have not. But I let T borrow a book that she then lost and denied having. I used to let clients borrow books but had a few rip me off and so I dont anymore. Theyre expensive and out of my pocket!

I guess books, like money, are best "lent" without expectation of return. Don't lend a book that you don't want to part with.

My xT gave me a book once - "The Happiness Project." It was not a success.

My T doesn't have any books in his room. It's a really peaceful place with cushions, art things, all sorts. Nothing with words, now I think of it, like books or posters, which is probably why it feels like so peaceful.

I couldn't borrow books from him anyway, I would get too stressed about damaging them or something. My dad is really obsessive about his books and that would set off all kinds of transference bombs.

title/author please

My T offered, and I think he said something like "if you promise to return it" or "if you promise to take care of it". I said, "too much pressure!"

I prefer to buy books if I'm going to read them-- I also find borrowing them from the library too much pressure. I read a lot, and for the last few years I have almost exclusively bought books on kindle.

What kind of books have you borrowed? Have you ever borrowed one that was disappointing?

yes my therapist has let me and her other clients borrow books. she has a bookshelf set up for her clients. she calls it her "library" and its set up like a library where each book has card. each of her clients have a number. when we cant to borrow a book we select the book, remove the card from the envelop that is glued on the inside cover, write our number on the card and place the card inside a recipe box. we are able to keep the books for two weeks, if we need longer we just take the book in so she can mark the card returned and then "sign it out" again that same day.

have I borrowed any that was disappointing..no because it isnt a situation where the therapist is handing it to us and telling us to read it. we get to choose whether we want to read a book or not, just like going to a regular library where we can choose to read what ever we want.

I kwym about the pressure. I stopped borrowing books from the library altogether because the late fees frequently equaled the cost of the book, lol.

That's a neat idea.

My T does loan out her books, but I prefer to have my own copy. I hate borrowing books from people.

T has recommended several books for me to read. One of them was a huge benefit to me...I cried tears of relief through half of the book. It was just amazing to relate to what was being written about, and it really helped me understand part of myself and my reactions. One of them was very upsetting to me. I think T thought it would help, but mostly it just made me frustrated and a little angry. We talked about it, and T understands why the book evoked the reactions it did from me. I understand why T thought it would help, but it just didn't. Other books, I've mostly been neutral about. Yeah, I've found some interesting information in them, and gained some insight, but I'd have gotten there eventually just by talking to T.

I borrowed books from my t a few times while she was still in the same town. I found them very helpful. I bought a copy of a couple of them at a used bookstore, and have referred back to them from time to time. Since we've been doing phone sessions, she's recommended another one that sounded so interesting I picked up a used copy of it as well and it's awesome.