Reading can take you on extraordinary journeys to new worlds or to faraway places in your own world. Or deeper into the depths of your imagination. When you stopped by this part of the site you might have expected to see self-help or psychology titles. Guess again! My point in choosing these titles is not just to spread the word about some great books but to illustrate how my counseling philosophy applies to books. Haven't read these? No problem! Tell me about the books you have read and loved. Together, we will discuss lessons and the things you loved from the stories and learn how you can apply these insights to your own life.

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Cloud Atlas
David Mitchell

Does your own story change in the retelling or when someone else is listening? (Hint: yes). This is one of the most powerful aspects of therapy, as reciting your own story can often lead to noticing patterns, uncovering hidden strengths or seeing an entirely new perspective on a series of events. Cloud Atlas is an involving narrative of interwoven stories, which, when taken together might resemble something like a Russian doll. The novel creates a sense of possibility for the reader, much like I try to do in therapy sessions. What will happen next, and how will the characters find the rest of their own stories? These are the questions we face in everyday life.

Cloud Atlas

The Stand
Stephen King

Stephen King is one of the most popular American authors, and The Stand is arguably his best book. Though life is very rarely black and white, the same cannot be said of this novel, which is an epic tale of good and evil. One of the novel’s key strengths lies in its huge cast. Who are the supporting players in your life, and how do they help you cope with difficulties? This novel is one of my favorite ensemble pieces and a lesson how, in working as a team, we can achieve the extraordinary.

The Stand

Gardens of the Moon
​Steven Erikson

Does everyone see the conflicts in your life the same? Gardens of the Moon takes traditional fantasy and turns it on its head. In this novel, you will not find a Harry Potter or a Frodo Baggins. Instead you will find a huge number of characters and a virtually impenetrable narrative from a strange, magical world with little for the reader to grasp on to. Why would I recommend this novel and what does it have to do with therapy? Often our own lives may seem impenetrable as well, especially to a therapist who is jumping in with both feet and no prior knowledge of the client's story. Might a conflict in your life take on a different meaning if more of the history was known? How would your story change if the other people in your life told the story or gave their perspective? Gardens of the Moons raises these very questions, though provides no easy answers. Life is a huge tapestry of tales, told by millions and millions of players. Welcome to it.

Gardens of the Moon