Millions of self-help books populate the shelves of libraries and bookstores. It can be difficult to know which ones to read in your limited time. Therefore, we've put together a list of books that we have found the most accurate and helpful in our work with clients.

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Click on a topic to see the recommendations for that category:

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(Click on the book titles to connect to Amazon.com for more detail on each book)

Phelan, Thomas (2000). All About Attention Deficit Disorder, 2nd Edition (Paperback, 248 pages). Publisher: Child Management.
A comprehensive guide to the symptoms, diagnosis, and management of ADD, written in straightforward language, and useful for parents, teachers, physicians, and mental health professionals. Helps the reader understand how to better serve the needs of ADD children in school, at home, and in social situations.

Barkley, Russell (2000). Taking Charge of ADHD, Revised Edition (Paperback, 321 pages). Publisher: Guildford.
A great resource for parents and teachers, written by the leading authority in the field of ADHD. Dr. Barkley explains his scientific findings in easy-to-understand language, including practical applications of these findings in everyday life. Well-organized for easy reference.

Flick, Grad (1997). ADD/ADHD Behavior-Change Resource Kit: Ready-to-use Strategies and Activities for Helping Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (Paperback, 392 pages). Publisher: Jossey-Bass.
Detailed and very practical guidelines, as well as reproducible handouts, to help children with ADHD develop new behaviors, such as learning social skills, playing by the rules, sitting still, paying attention, controlling impulsivity and anger, and more. Contains questionnaires, checklists, charts, and worksheets to help children, parents, and teachers.

Flick, Grad (1996). Power Parenting for Children with ADD/ADHD: A Practical Parent’s Guide for Managing Difficult Behaviors (Paperback, 256 pages). Publisher: Jossey-Bass.
Essential and practical information that parents can implement immediately to help children with ADHD at home and at school. Includes a variety of charts, forms, checklists, activities, and games. Sections on working with the child’s teacher, creating appropriate behavior, and training your child to pay attention.

Rief, Sandra (2005). How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions for Helping Children with Attention Problems and Hyperactivity (Paperback, 256 pages). Publisher: Jossey-Bass.
A comprehensive resource that helps teachers meet the needs of children with ADHD. Includes management techniques that promote on-task behavior, multi-sensory instruction strategies that maintain student attention, strategies for preventing problems during transition times, and much more.

Monastra, Vincent (2004). Parenting Children with ADHD: 10 Lessons that Medicine Can't Teach. (Paperback, 263 pages). Publisher: American Psychological Association.
Gives parents a framework for building a successful parenting program at home. Reviews the educational rights of children with ADHD and outlines a process for working with school district's to get your child the help they need.

Nadeau, Kathleen, & Dixon, Ellen (2004). Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids about ADD (Paperback, 80 pages). Publisher: Magination.
Reading Level: Ages 6-10.
A book for children to learn more about themselves and what it means to live with ADD. Clear, easy to understand writing, with checklists and other tools to help kids maintain attention. Also has information on other topics that are often difficult for kids with ADD, such as friendships and schoolwork.

Quinn, Patricia, & Stern, Judith (2001). Putting on the Brakes: Young People’s Guide to Understanding Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Paperback, 96 pages). Publisher: Magination.
Reading Level: Ages 9-12.
This book explains ADHD to the child in easy-to-understand language, and teaches how children and parents can learn to manage it. Includes sections on understanding medications, making friends, and becoming more organized.

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Anxiety
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Chansky, Tamar (2004). Freeing Your Child From Anxiety: Powerful, Practical Solutions to Overcome Your Child's Fears, Worries, and Phobias. (Paperback, 320 pages). Publisher: Broadway.
This is one of the best books a parent of an anxious child can read. Explains what causes anxiety and exactly how to go about helping your child feel better. Includes chapters on excessive worrying, nighttime fears, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more. Explains how parents can use the same cognitive-behavioral strategies at home that a professional therapist would use to help your anxious child. Highly recommended.

Lerner, Harriet (2005). The Dance of Fear: Rising Above Anxiety, Fear, and Shame to be Your Best and Bravest Self. Paperback, 256 pages. Publisher: Harper.
Anxiety, fear, and shame can paralyze us if we don't understand these feelings. The book explains how to become unparalyzed by being proactive, speaking up, thinking positively, and being alert to negative feelings about the self that impose limitations and inhibit healthy interpersonal behavior.

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Bipolar Disorder
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Goldberg, Jill, & Fristad, Mary (2003). Raising a Moody Child: How to Cope with Depression and Bipolar Disorder. (Paperback, 260 pages).
Publisher: Guildford.
A parenting book with practical advice and effective strategies for helping children with depression and bipolar disorder; gives suggestions for teaching children how to manage their moods.

Papolos, Demitri, & Papolos, Janice (2002). The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder. (Hardcover, 480 pages).
Publisher: Broadway.
A comprehensive reference guide covering proper diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of the disorder. Explains medical information in understandable terms; includes a chapter on hospitalization. Also discusses parental stress and coping, as well as educational strategies.

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Depression
(Click on the book titles to connect to Amazon.com for more detail on each book)

Burns, David (2003). Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, Revised and Updated. Paperback, 736 pages. Publisher: Avon.
This book is a "classic" in the field of overcoming depression, and is still one of the best books to explain cognitive therapy in easy-to-understand terms. Highly recommended.

O'Connor, Richard (1999). Undoing Depression. Paperback, 368 pages. Publisher: Berkley Trade.
Explains how depression is a learned behavior that can be unlearned through thinking differently and incorporating coping skills into daily life. Outlines what individuals and family members can do to support professional therapy for overcoming depression.

Thase, Michael, & Lang, Susan (2006). Beating the Blues: New Approaches to Overcoming Dysthymia and Chronic Mild Depression. Paperback, 208 pages. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
The authors show how chronic mild depression can be relieved by learning strategies that help individuals to recognize and change negative and distorted thinking patterns that lead to a downward spiral of pessimism. They also discuss when a person should seek help from a therapist and what kinds of therapy seem the most effective.

Fassler, David, & Dumas, Lynne (1998). Help Me, I'm Sad: Recognizing, Treating, and Preventing Childhood and Adolescent Depression. Paperback, 224 pages. Publisher: Penguin.
For parents who have depressed children, here is practical, easy-to-understand information on what you can do to help. Discusses how to tell if your child is at risk; how to spot symptoms; depression's link with other problems and its impact on the family; teen suicide; finding the right diagnosis, therapist, and treatment.

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Eating Disorders
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recommendations will be added soon!

 

Marriage
(Click on the book titles to connect to Amazon.com for more detail on each book)

Gottman, John (2000). The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work. Three Rivers Press.

Markman, Howard J, Stanley, Scott M., Blumberg, Susan L., Jenkins, Natalie H., & Whiteley, Carol (2004). Twelve Hours to a Great Marriage. Jossey-Bass.

Markman, Howard J, Stanley, Scott M., Blumberg, Susan L., (2001). Fighting For Your Marriage: Positive Steps for Preventing Divorce and Preserving a Lasting Love. Jossey-Bass.

Arp, David & Claudia (1997). 10 Great Dates to Energize Your Marriage. Zondervan.

Arp, David & Claudia (2004). 10 Great Dates for Empty Nesters. Zondervan.

Haltzman, Scott (2005). The Secrets of Happily Married Men: Eight Ways to Win Your Wife's Heart Forever. Jossey-Bass.

Robinson, Jonathan (1997). Communication Miracles for Couples: Easy and Effective Tools to Create More Love and Less Conflict. Conari Press.

Bernstein, Jeffrey (2003). Why Can't You Read My Mind? Overcoming the 9 Toxic Thought Patterns that Get in the Way of a Loving Relationship. Marlow & Company.

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Parenting

more recommendations will be added soon!

 

Peace, War, and Terrorism Books for Children

Note: The following books are intended to be read aloud to children by parents and caregivers to ease children's fears about world events, and to increase their understanding of peace. (Click on the book titles to connect to Amazon.com for more detail on each book)

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Sexuality Issues for Preteens and Teens
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