You’ve noticed that your anxious thoughts continue to nag you, but you’re not ready to see or commit to seeing a therapist. You’ve tried your coping skills, but they don’t seem to work. You need new skills and ideas, but you aren’t sure where to go. Yet you keep doom scrolling Amazon for hours looking for options. However, when you finish scrolling, you’re more exhausted than empowered, and the anxiety is there, waiting for you.
As a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who specializes in working with anxiety, here are my best 5 self-help books for anxiety. These books have been written by individuals with advanced degrees, and some with research backgrounds. As a LMFT with a doctorate and understanding of research findings, I have found great value in these books and regularly include their approaches in my own clinical work. I also regularly recommend these books to colleagues and the clients I work with. While I love sharing these books, I do not make any commission from sharing them, whether in-person or online. My recommendations are shared below, with no emphasis on their order.
1. The Intrusive Thoughts Toolkit: Quick Relief for Obsessive, Unwanted, or Disturbing Thoughts
I’ve reviewed many self-help books that promise success and deliver disappointment. Not this book. Not only are the strategies backed in evidence-based therapeutic approaches, but you also have a buffet to choose from.
Ideal if: You are looking for a wide variety of ways to manage your thoughts. The authors in this book present 40 different options of strategies you can try. Great for grabbing some strategies, sampling them, and then coming back for more. I don’t recommend this book to be read all at once.
Learn more here.
2. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life
Written by two individuals with advanced degrees and updated in 2017, this book validates the experiences of people who struggle with saying no, for whatever reason.
Ideal if: You find yourself regularly people-pleasing others to keep them happy or in your life.
Learn more here.
3. A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters
This is a gem that is based on decades of research findings that show how changing the way we use language to describe situations and challenges can alleviate how these things are interpreted.
Ideal if: You appreciate a more conversational approach to reading and are open to adjusting your thoughts about your situation.
Learn more here.
4. No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
Don’t let the title fool you into thinking this is only a book about trauma. On the contrary—this book canvasses any type of life problem or situation you may find yourself in. Also backed by research, the author teaches you how your thoughts, or parts, work for or against you and what you really want to achieve.
Ideal if: You are interested in a new way to think about changing the way you approach problems and situations, as in being open to a paradigm shift. This book also includes exercises in the back for advanced learning and growth.
Learn more here.
5. Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
You’re not a reader, you’re a doer. This book translates the research into practice by offering you a workbook to do exercises to check your learning. It also has great visuals to illustrate the approach in greater detail.
Ideal if: You consider yourself a “hands-on” learner. This workbook provides ways that you can make actionable steps of change.
Learn more here.
Therapist for anxiety in Utah County
You’ve done diligence, read the self-help books, but you aren’t seeing the results. You’re not alone — this happens.
Unlike self-help books, you don’t get personalized support or understanding as you would from seeing a therapist. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in anxiety, as well as trauma, and couples issues. I work with adults who are stuck in anxiety, professionals who are seeking relief from their demands, and adults who have had traumatic childhoods or recent events. I offer online therapy in Utah, Texas, or Virginia. I can also work with you in-person at my therapy office in Provo, Utah.
Come and explore my website to get to know me better; send me a message and let’s talk about the challenges you experience and how I can help.
