When my young clients’ parents and adult clients wish to go the extra mile, they ask for book recommendations.  Here is my list:

Children’s Books:

1.      Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes.

This book has been one of my client’s favorites  Wemberly is a little mouse that worries about everything.  My client adults, teens and children smile as they read it because they can totally identify with Wemberly.

 2.      My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.

I use this book to introduce the topic of feelings.  Children know Dr. Seuss books and enjoy seeing the pictures of various animals illustrating different feelings.  This is a great book to emphasize it’s normal to have different feelings.

 3.     I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore.

Whether your children have anxiety issues, depression, ADHD, or other challenges, it’s important to remember our unconditional love for them.  They need to know we love them no matter what.

 4.     Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley.

Children gain empowerment as they “read” this book along with their parents.

Parenting Books:

5.      Between Parent and Child: The Bestselling Classic That Revolutionized Parent-Child Communication by Dr.

Haim G. Ginott, Alice Ginott and H. Wallace Goddard.

The fundamentals of parenting are taught here.  This is a classic.

6.      Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman.

This is a must for every parent.  Parents learn they can help their children increase their emotional intelligence and how to nurture it.

 7.      Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of

Children and Adolescents by Tamar E. Chansky.

Because I help children with anxiety challenges, particularly with OCD, this is an excellent book for parents so they can learn to support their child without enabling them.

 8.     Parenting Your Anxious Child with Mindfulness and Acceptance: A Powerful New Approach to Overcoming

Fear, Panic… by Christopher McCurry PhD and Steven C. Hayes PhD.

Parenting is difficult, but parenting an anxious child can be very challenging.  When parents use mindfulness each day, it can avoid hurt feelings and most importantly, it can strengthen the parent-child relationship.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:

9.       Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Personalized Recovery Program for Living with

Uncertainty by Jonathan Grayson.

This is my #1 book recommendation when clients need extra help with their OCD challenges.  Word of advice:  Do NOT take shortcuts when it comes to your treatment and your reading.  Do not skip pages.  Read the whole book even if you think some areas do not apply to you.

10.   Stop Obsessing!: How to Overcome Your Obsessions and Compulsions (Revised Edition) by Edna

B. Foa and Reid Wilson.

This is a classic and great source of information regarding OCD treatment.