My work as a life consultant has been informed by many sources. I've included references to books and links by people who have influenced my work and my life. I hope you find them interesting and useful.
The first five books are excellent resources for anyone looking to maintain strong emotional health. They provide a basic foundation for what is recently being called mindfulness-based CBT (first three books) and Positive Psychology (fourth and fifth book). The remaining books are very good, but their material is more narrow in focus.
- Minding the Body, Mending the Mind, by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.
- Full Catastrophe Living, by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
These are excellent books on the topic of mindfulness, which teaches techniques for feeling more comfortable and aware of your body, and for keeping your thinking in the present moment. Research has shown these techniques to be effective in lessening negative moods (anxiety and depression) and increasing positive emotional moods.
- The Feeling Good Handbook, by David D. Burns, M.D.
This is one of the best and most practical guides on using basic cognitive techniques (or, "changing ways in which you think") to reduce most forms of anxiety, depression, and stress. And reducing negative emotion is one of the first steps toward switching to positive, more hopeful emotions. At a minimum, I recommend learning the "cognitive distortions" and "how to untwist your thinking."
- Authentic Happiness, by Martin E. P. Seligman,
Ph.D.
If you read only one book about Positive Psychology, this should be it. Seligman provides a very nice summary of some of the key research that has been done in this area. This book defines different types of happiness, and explains what will and won't give you lasting happiness.
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
This is a very important book that describes the link between purposeful, skilled activity and feelings of well being in human beings. Although the basic lessons of this book can be applied by anyone, philosophy and social-science enthusiasts will particularly enjoy this book.
The remaining books are listed in no particular order.
- How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, by by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
The book most recommended to me about general parenting guidelines. And it contains very entertaining illustrations.
- Why Marriages Succeed or Fail...and How You can Make Yours Last, by John Gottman, Ph.D.
This is a well-researched book on the characteristics that successful couples exhibit, and behaviors that, if present, signal a high probability of the relationship ending (which he calls "the four horsemen of the apocalypse"). This book strongly informs both my work with couples and with people seeking to find compatible partners.
- The Art of Advice: How to Give It and How to Take It, by Jeswald W. Salacuse
It's clear that the quality of relationships can greatly influence emotional well being. And the ability to give and take feedback is essential to healthy social interactions.
- Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology
This is the web site for the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center, where Dr. Martin Seligman is the director. Although the center offers a number of happiness-related questionnaires that you can take online, I particularly recommend the VIA Signature Strengths survey.
- Joan Borysenko: Practical Paths to Wholeness in the Real World
This web page provides more information and resources about working the mind-body connection for greater mental and physical health.
- Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine
The institute runs excellent introductory training about mind-body approaches for clinicians, training for people wishing to create programs similar to the Benson-Henry Institute, and groups for people struggling with conditions that can be greatly helped with mind-body approaches (infertility, menopause, life-threatening illness, and more).
- How to Stay Stressed
A funny, somewhat biting, and informative web page about how staying stressed just might be kinda paying off for most of us.
- NASW Massachusetts: Therapy Referral Service (617) 720-2828
If you would prefer to seek counseling in the medical community instead of my form of life consultation, this is a good way to find a psychotherapist who may accept your health insurance. (Massachusetts residents only.)