15 Books to Heal from Trauma & Cultivate Resiliency
Top clinical resources to honor Trauma Awareness Month
PESI Team
May is a special month in the mental health community. Not only has May been named Mental Health Awareness month, but we simultaneously recognize Trauma Awareness Month.
Trauma can take over the lives and cause long-term effects to the overall well-being of those who suffer. In children and adolescents, it can even disrupt brain development as they grow and mature alongside pain and emotional damage.
But with treatment, there are plenty of ways to cope with the symptoms of trauma and begin to build back the comfort, happiness, and physical health that your clients felt prior to the traumatic experiences.
During this month, PESI is proud to share these 15 titles of trauma recovery and treatment, allowing for clients and clinicians to start their journey toward trauma awareness, and most importantly, healing.
Trauma can take over the lives and cause long-term effects to the overall well-being of those who suffer. In children and adolescents, it can even disrupt brain development as they grow and mature alongside pain and emotional damage.
But with treatment, there are plenty of ways to cope with the symptoms of trauma and begin to build back the comfort, happiness, and physical health that your clients felt prior to the traumatic experiences.
During this month, PESI is proud to share these 15 titles of trauma recovery and treatment, allowing for clients and clinicians to start their journey toward trauma awareness, and most importantly, healing.
The Tapping Toolbox: Simple Body-Based Techniques to Relieve Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Pain, and More
Fred P. Gallo, PhDWritten by Dr. Fred Gallo, a foremost pioneer and energy psychology innovator, The Tapping Toolbox is the perfect primer for anyone looking to learn more about the philosophy and research behind tapping, as well as how to apply this simple, yet powerful, technique to resolve their most difficult problems. The power to resolve emotional distress and connect to your innate health and wisdom lies at the tip of your fingers.
Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Applying the Principles of Polyvagal Theory for Self-Discovery, Embodied Healing, and Meaningful Change
Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYTTrauma recovery is as much about healing the body as it is the mind. Yet, so often, the focus of healing involves retelling the story of the past without addressing the physiological imbalances that trauma leaves in its wake. Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery bridges this path of healing between the psyche and the body by walking you through the sacred practice of yoga so you can release the burdens of trauma from your body and mind.
Big Behaviors in Small Containers: 131 Trauma-Informed Play Therapy Interventions for Disorders of Dysregulation
Paris Goodyear-Brown, MSSW, LCSW, RPT-SWhen it comes to working with dysregulated children, sometimes the biggest behaviors come in the smallest containers. From tantrums to withdrawal, even the most skilled professionals find themselves extinguishing the troubling behavior rather than stepping back to ask: What is the underlying emotional need? In Big Behaviors in Small Containers, you’ll find play therapy interventions that shift the paradigm around problematic behaviors to allow for therapeutic growth and healing.
Advanced CBT Toolbox for Depressed, Anxious & Traumatized Youth: Over 150 Worksheets, Handouts & Therapist Tips to Promote Resilience, Positive Emotions & Personal Growth
David M. Pratt, PhD, MSWBased on Dr. Pratt’s 40+ years of clinical experience, these actionable, youth-friendly worksheets and handouts will help your clients become more resilient, optimistic, and fully alive. Each activity is accompanied by a therapist rationale explaining the evidence base and clinical foundation underlying the intervention, as well as therapist tips for successful implementation. This advanced CBT toolbox is a natural companion for Dr. Pratt’s first book, CBT Toolbox for Depressed, Anxious & Suicidal Children and Adolescents.
Trauma and Attachment: Over 150 Attachment-Based Interventions to Heal Trauma
Christina Reese, PhD, LCPCIn this comprehensive yet accessible book, Dr. Reese provides an attachment framework for treating clients who have experienced a multitude of traumas, ranging from abuse and neglect to medical traumas, natural disasters, and exposure to violence. Through a variety of worksheets, exercises, and activities, this book provides clients with the tools they need to develop a foundation for healing so they can find feelings of safety and security within relationships again.
Trauma Treatment in ACTION: Over 85 Activities to Move Clients Toward Healing, Growth and Improved Functioning
Varleisha D. Gibbs, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, & Nikki Harley, MSODEffective therapy requires expanding the concept of trauma-informed care by putting it into ACTION. It requires being aware of the signs and symptoms of trauma that exist in your clients, even if your practice is not focused on mental health. Whether you’re a counselor, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, rehab specialist, physical therapist, or social worker, recognizing and understanding how trauma exists in the body and mind is key to healing the whole person.
Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems
Frank Anderson, MDHope and light are on the horizon to help clients overcome the challenges of healing and releasing the pain of relational trauma. In this transformative book Frank Anderson, MD, masterfully details an IFS path to therapy that allows clients to access their inherent capacity for healing—called Self-energy—while also helping them welcome, as opposed to manage, the extreme emotions frequently associated with trauma.
Building a Trauma-Informed, Compassionate Classroom: Strategies & Activities to Reduce Challenging Behavior, Improve Learning Outcomes, and Increase Student Engagement
Dr. Jennifer L. Bashant, PhD, LMSW, MAMeeting your students’ social and emotional needs in the classroom is foundational to effective learning. It’s a difficult job among typical learners, let alone with students who have a trauma history and more demanding mental health or behavioral challenges. Mental health expert Jennifer Bashant details how using a trauma-informed approach will greatly reduce, even eliminate, challenging behavior in your classroom.
Trauma-Informed Social-Emotional Toolbox for Children & Adolescents: 116 Worksheets & Skill-Building Exercises to Support Safety, Connection & Empowerment
Laura Sibbald, MA, CCC-SLP, ASDCS, CYMHS, & Lisa Weed Phifer, DEd, NCSPWritten by expert clinicians, the activities in this workbook support a foundation of social-emotional language, an increase in consistency and routine, regulation of tough emotions, and the formation of connections with others. Inside you'll find 116 easy-to-use, solution-focused activities and worksheets developed with a trauma-informed lens.
Trauma Treatment Toolbox for Teens: 144 Trauma-Informed Worksheets and Exercises to Promote Resilience, Growth & Healing
Kristina Hallett, PhD, ABPP, & Jill Donelan, Psy.D.Looking to empower children and adolescents to cope with trauma and build resiliency? Written by expert clinicians, the activities in this workbook support a foundation of social-emotional language, an increase in consistency and routine, regulation of tough emotions, and the formation of connections with others.
Coping Skills for Trauma Deck: 54 Practices to Overcome Trauma-Related Stressors, Deal with Shame & Guilt and Increase Resiliency
Timothy Gordon, MSW, RSWLiving with trauma is hard. Let this deck be a companion on your journey. Inside you’ll find 54 exercises to develop the skills needed to cope in the face of trauma, PTSD, and stress. Filled with innovative practices from attachment theory, compassion, acceptance, mindfulness, and CBT—this deck will help you relax, build healthier relationships, and find a more balanced lifestyle.
Transforming The Living Legacy of Trauma: A Workbook for Survivors and Therapists
Janina Fisher, PhDTraumatic experiences leave a “living legacy” of effects that often persist for years and decades after the events are over. Historically, it has always been assumed that re-telling the story of what happened would resolve these effects. To transform traumatic experiences, survivors need to understand their symptoms and reactions as normal responses to abnormal events. They need ways to work with the symptoms that intrude on their daily activities, preventing a life beyond trauma.
The Living Legacy of Trauma Flip Chart: A Psychoeducational In-Session Tool for Clients and Therapists
Janina Fisher, PhDTraumatized individuals often have trouble processing words and information, but visual images draw their attention, allow them to better understand and engage more easily in treatment. Created by Janina Fisher, PhD, this flip chart makes psychoeducation a relational experience in which the client can feel understood and supported. It presents scientific information in an accessible, easy-to-understand manner that builds trust, even in the early stages of therapy, and allows trauma survivors to feel more empowered rather than victimized by their symptoms.
Acceptance and Mindfulness Toolbox for Children and Adolescents: 75+ Worksheets & Activities for Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Anger & More
Timothy Gordon, MSW, RSW, & Jessica Borushok, PhDThe Acceptance and Mindfulness Toolbox for Children & Adolescents gives you the resources to help the children and adolescents better manage their behaviors and emotions. After years of clinical experience using these practical, evidence-based tools with young clients, the authors have put together over 75 worksheets, activities, exercises, and scripts to engage kids and keep therapy moving forward.
Somatic Psychotherapy Toolbox: 125 Worksheets and Exercises to Treat Trauma & Stress
Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, LMFTWhether you’re new to somatic approaches or a seasoned practitioner, this toolbox will be a game-changer in your work. From over 25 years of clinical experience, Manuela Mischke- Reeds, MA, LMFT, has created the go-to resource for mental health therapists who want to incorporate somatic techniques into their daily practice. Highly-effective for clients dealing with trauma and stress disorders, somatic psychotherapy is the future of healing the entire person-body and mind.
