Recommended Books
Books and resources Elaine and the Safe Harbor Counseling Center team often recommend to clients, organized by topic. Each title opens on Amazon.
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Marriage and relationships
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Hold Me Tight
by Dr. Sue Johnson
Seven conversations for a lifetime of love, from the founder of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
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The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
by John Gottman, PhD, and Nan Silver
Research-based habits of couples who thrive, from the Gottman Institute. One of our most recommended marriage books.
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How We Love
by Milan and Kay Yerkovich
Discover your love style and how childhood patterns show up in your marriage, plus practical steps to change the dance.
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Attached
by Amir Levine, MD, and Rachel Heller
An easy-to-read introduction to adult attachment styles and how they shape the way we love.
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The Great Sex Rescue
by Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach and Joanna Sawatsky
A research-based, Christian look at intimacy in marriage that replaces harmful messages with mutuality and care.
Boundaries and codependency
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Boundaries
by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
The Christian classic on when to say yes, how to say no, and taking ownership of your life.
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Good Boundaries and Goodbyes
by Lysa TerKeurst
Biblical, honest help for setting boundaries in hard relationships without losing the best of who you are.
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Set Boundaries, Find Peace
by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Practical scripts and examples for saying no, speaking up and protecting your peace with family, friends and coworkers.
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Codependent No More
by Melody Beattie
The classic guide to letting go of rescuing and controlling others, and learning to care for yourself again.
Kids: feelings, friendship and family changes
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Feelings
by Aliki
A playful picture book that helps young children name and talk about all kinds of feelings.
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Courage
by Bernard Waber
A sweet picture book about the many kinds of courage, big and small. Lovely for anxious kids facing something new.
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How to Be a Friend
by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Fun dinosaur characters teach young kids how to make friends, keep friends and handle conflict.
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Dinosaurs Divorce
by Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
A kid-friendly guide to the changes divorce brings, from two homes to new routines and big feelings.
Grief and loss
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Lifetimes
by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
A gentle picture book that helps young children understand that every living thing has a beginning and an end. A good first conversation about death.
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I Miss You: A First Look at Death
by Pat Thomas
A simple, reassuring book that helps children ages 4 to 7 talk about death, grief and the feelings that come with loss.
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When Dinosaurs Die
by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Clear, gentle answers to children's questions about death, funerals and remembering someone they love.
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It's OK That You're Not OK
by Megan Devine
Compassionate support for grieving adults that honors your loss instead of rushing you to "move on."
Teens, young adults and parenting
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Conquer Anxiety Workbook for Teens
by Tabatha Chansard, PhD
Teen-friendly tools for worry, panic, fears and phobias that students can start using right away.
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The Body Image Workbook for Teens
by Julia V. Taylor, PhD
Activities that help teen girls stop comparing and build a healthier, kinder view of themselves.
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Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out
by Jim Burns, PhD
Wise, faith-filled encouragement for parents learning a new role as their kids become adults.
Healing, mental health and personal growth
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What Happened to You?
by Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, and Oprah Winfrey
Conversations on trauma, resilience and healing that shift the question from "What's wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?"
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Depression Relief Journal
by Maggie C. Vaughan, LMFT, PhD
Creative prompts and mindfulness practices to help you notice, release and reframe negative thoughts.
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The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD
by Jon Hershfield, MFT, and Tom Corboy, MFT
Mindfulness and CBT tools for working through obsessions and compulsions.
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The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook
by Daniel J. Fox, PhD
Practical, step-by-step exercises to understand BPD, manage intense emotions and build steadier relationships.
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Emotional Intelligence 2.0
by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves
A quick read with practical strategies to grow self-awareness, self-management and relationship skills.