Frequently children and teenagers do not have quick access to counseling / psychotherapy sessions in Canada and in the USA. Most times, the self help book are not a replacement for counseling / psychotherapy sessions, but the book frequently help, specially while the child could not yet start attending counseling sessions. Ask your family doctor if you should or not start reading any of the books mentioned in this website. Never change your treatment without the advice of your doctor. Please review the terms and conditions of use of this website carefully.
For parents:
- The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child by Dr. Alan E. Kazdin (audiobook available). I recorded one video about this book: https://youtu.be/JstyXYfIh_g
- The Everyday Parenting Toolkit: The Kazdin Method for Easy, Step-by-Step, Lasting Change for You and Your Child by Alan E. Kazdin (Author), Carlo Rotella (Author) (audiobook available).
For parents of teenagers:
- Born to Be Wild: Why Teens Take Risks, and How We Can Help Keep Them Safe by Jess Shatkin (audiobook available).
For all parents:
- Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordon Neufeld (Author), Gabor Maté (Author) (audiobook available).
For parents of children who are easily frustrated:
- The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross W. Greene (Author) (audiobook available).
For parents of anxious children:
- Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-By-Step Guide for Parents” by Sue Spence, Vanessa Cobham, Ann Wignall, and Ronald M. Rapee (audiobook available).
For parents to read with their young child (most of the books below can be read too by young teenagers who do not have the habit of reading). The titles of the books explain their use:
- Outsmarting Worry: An Older Kid’s Guide to Managing Anxiety by Dawn Huebner and Kara McHale (this book about worrying is a good choice for teenagers who do not have the habit of reading, and would therefore very likely not read bigger books).
- What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner (Author), Bonnie Matthews (Illustrator)
- What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCD by Dawn Huebner PhD (Author), Bonnie Matthews (Author). I recorded one video about this book: https://youtu.be/v7nyQFnj6SQ (this book can be used by older teenagers who do not have the habit of reading, or as a quick start resource, for teenagers to read, before reading bigger books, like the book Talking Back to OCD)
- What to Do When Your Temper Flares: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Problems With Anger by Dawn Huebner PhD (Author), Bonnie Matthews (Illustrator)
- What to Do When You Feel Too Shy: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Social Anxiety by Claire A. B. Freeland (Author), Jacqueline B. Toner (Author), Janet McDonnell (Author)
- What to Do When You Don’t Want to Be Apart: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Separation Anxiety by Kristen Lavallee PhD (Author), Silvia Schneider Dr. rer. nat. (Author), Janet McDonnell (Author)
- What to Do When You Dread Your Bed: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Problems With Sleep by Dawn Huebner PhD (Author), Bonnie Matthews (Author)
- What to Do When Bad Habits Take Hold: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Nail Biting and More by Dawn Huebner PhD (Author), Bonnie Matthews (Author)
- What to Do When You Grumble Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Negativity by Dawn Huebner PhD (Author), Bonnie Matthews (Author)
The 4 books below are about perfectionism:
- Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg (Author) (This is a very small book, and can be read in only a few minutes. It is a beautiful little book. Consider borrowing it from a public library. Best suited for very young children).
- Nobody’s Perfect: A Story for Children About Perfectionism by Ellen Flanagan Burns (Author), Erica Pelton Villnave (Illustrator).
- What to Do When Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough: The Real Deal on Perfectionism: A Guide for Kids by Thomas S. Greenspon, Ph.D. (this book about perfectionism is a good choice for teenagers who do not have the habit of reading, and would therefore very likely not read bigger books).
- What to Do When Mistakes Make You Quake: A Kid’s Guide to Accepting Imperfection by Claire A. B. Freeland (Author), Jacqueline B. Toner (Author), Janet McDonnell (Author)
The book below is typically an excellent for every parent to read with their child or teenager:
- Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens by Barbara Oakley PhD (Author), Terrence Sejnowski PhD (Author), Alistair McConville (Author) (Audio book available).
The book below is typically an excellent choice for parents to read with their child or teenager who have attention problems:
- The Survival Guide for Kids with ADHD: Updated Edition by John Taylor (Author) (Audio book available).
Books for older teenagers, or for younger teenagers who read very well. Most times, it is better if the parents read the books too. Ask the opinion of your family doctor or counselor / psychotherapist about it.
Books about Depression and Worrying
- Depression: A Teen’s Guide to Survive and Thrive by Jacqueline B. Toner and Claire A. B. Freeland
- The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens: CBT Skills to Overcome Fear, Worry, and Panic by Jennifer Shannon LMFT (Author), Doug Shannon (Illustrator)
- Conquer Anxiety Workbook for Teens: Find Peace from Worry, Panic, Fear, and Phobias by Tabatha Chansard PhD (Author)
- Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns (book published in 1980) (audiobook available). Consider listening to the audiobook AND reading the paper (or eBook version) of the book at the same time, to maximize retention. Teenagers typically need to read very well to be able to read this book.
- Feeling Great by Dr. David Burns (book published in 2020) (audiobook available). I do not recommend to my patients to read the chapter 31 of this book (chapter: what causes depression and anxiety?), as it presents one incorrect fact about the use of antidepressants in children and teenagers. This is otherwise an amazing book. This book is similar to the book Feeling Good, but it is easier to read than the book Feeling Good. Consider listening to the audiobook AND reading the paper (or eBook version) of the book at the same time, to maximize retention. I currently prescribe more the book Feeling Great than the book Feeling Good, because Feeling Great is far easier to read. This is really an amazing book. It is a big book too. This is the book I currently prescribe the most for teenager who read well and make a commitment to read the books I recommend. For the less committed teenagers, I recommend the book Depression: A Teen’s Guide to Survive and Thrive by Jacqueline B. Toner and Claire A. B. Freeland. This last book is also excellent, but not as detailed as the book Feeling Great.
- When Panic Attacks by Dr. David Burn (audiobook available).
- Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think Second Edition by Dennis Greenberger (Author), Christine A. Padesky (Author), Aaron T. Beck (Foreword). (This book is amazing. Unfortunately no audio version is available as of Feb 2023. Its previous version has been translate into several languages).
- How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie (audiobook available). This is an old book. It may appear outdated, but the message is not outdate. It is one of the 2 books I have read more than 10 times. The other is:
- How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (audiobook available). This is an old book. It may appear outdated, but the message is not outdate. I recorded one video about this book: https://youtu.be/Ea-nBa5esj0
Books about Shyness / Social Anxiety / Social Phobia
- The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens: CBT and ACT Skills to Help You Build Social Confidence by Jennifer Shannon LMFT (Author), Christine Padesky (Foreword), Doug Shannon (Illustrator)
- The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven, Step-by-Step Techniques for Overcoming Your Fear by Martin M. Antony PhD and Richard P. Swinson MD
- The Solution to Social Anxiety: Break Free from the Shyness That Holds You Back by Dr. Aziz Gazipura PsyD, Dr. Aziz Gazipura, et al. (This book appears to be better for adults, and for 16 and 17 year old who read well. This book is most popular with male readers, as Dr. Gazipura himself indicates, but it can be read by people of any gender).
Books about Coping with Perfectionism
- How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism by Stephen Guise (Author)(audiobook available).
- When Perfect Isn’t Good Enough (Second Edition): Strategies for Coping with Perfectionism by Martin M. Antony PhD, Richard P. Swinson MD, et al (audiobook available).
Book about Coping with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
- Talking Back to OCD: The Program That Helps Kids and Teens Say “No Way” — and Parents Say “Way to Go” (Paperback) by John S. March. (audiobook available). (this is a big book. For the teenagers who do not read well, it may be better to start with the book What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCD by Dawn Huebner PhD (Author), Bonnie Matthews (Author), and then try to read Talking Back to OCD. Listening to the audiobook version, instead of reading the book, will likely make the content of this book more accessible. Or, read the book AND listen to the audiobook at the same time, to improve further the retention of the content, specially for the teenagers who do not read well.
Book about the benefits (including mental health benefits), of being physically active
- Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey (Author) and Eric Hagerman (Contributor) (audiobook available).
Books about Learning Disorders and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Nowhere to Hide: Why Kids with ADHD and LD Hate School and What We Can Do About It by Jerome J. Schultz (Author), Edward M. Hallowell (Foreword).
- The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A. (Author), Fernette F. Eide M.D. (Author). (audiobook available).
- Driven To Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey (Audio book available). Dr. Edward M. Hallowell has himself Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and explores in this book ways children, teenagers and adults can learn to cope with their Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Audio book available).
Books about Autism Spectrum Disorder
- The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome by Dr. Tony Attwood (audiobook available).
- Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Tony Attwood and Lorna Wing
- Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin, Deborah Marlowe (audiobook available).
Books about Bipolar Affective Disorder
- An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison (audiobook available).
- Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament by Kay Redfield Jamison (Author)
Book about Schizophrenia
- Ben Behind His Voices: One Family’s Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia to Hope by Randye Kaye (audiobook available). This is an excellent book for family member of patients who suffer from schizophrenia.
Books about Borderline Personality Disorder
- I Hate You–Don’t Leave Me: Third Edition: Understanding the Borderline Personality by Jerold J. Kreisman and Hal Straus (audiobook available).
- Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder by Paul T. T. Mason and Randi Kreger
For list of books about Social Skills training, visit:
https://drtavares.wordpress.com/2021/10/16/social-skills-list-of-resources/
For additional list of books about shyness / social anxiety / social phobia, visit:
https://drtavares.wordpress.com/2017/01/18/handout-about-shyness/
Book suggestions for children – from Dr. Marisa R. Mendel, M.D. website: www.marisamendelmd.com/
https://www.marisamendelmd.com/bibliotherapy-book-suggestions
ANXIETY OR PERFECTIONISM
https://www.marisamendelmd.com/anxiety-or-perfectionism
ADHD
https://www.marisamendelmd.com/adhd-1
OCD
https://www.marisamendelmd.com/ocd
PARENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
https://www.marisamendelmd.com/parents-with-mental-illness
TRAUMA OR EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
https://www.marisamendelmd.com/trauma-or-experienced-domestic-viol
ABUSE OR INAPPROPRIATE TOUCH
https://www.marisamendelmd.com/abuse-or-innappropriate-touch
ANGER (AND OTHER EMOTIONS), BEHAVIORAL/SELF CONTROL, and SOCIAL SKILL DIFFICULTIES
https://www.marisamendelmd.com/anger-self-control-social-skills
The general information provided in Dr. Tavares’ blog and video channels is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or care, nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore.
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