The Coaching in Science Initiative
Recommended Books
Expert Guidance: Many books on mental health are authored by experts in the field, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and researchers. These professionals share their knowledge, insights, and evidence-based strategies for improving mental well-being. By reading their work, individuals can benefit from the expertise and guidance of these experienced professionals.
Self-coaching Resources: Books specifically focus on providing practical strategies, exercises, and techniques for managing mental health challenges. They offer step-by-step guidance on topics such as stress management, anxiety reduction, improving self-esteem, developing healthy relationships, and enhancing resilience. Readers can learn and apply these skills in their daily lives.
Personal Stories and Inspiration: Many books on mental health incorporate personal narratives, memoirs, or testimonials from individuals who have experienced mental health struggles. These stories provide a sense of connection, validation, and inspiration for readers who may be going through similar challenges. Reading about others' experiences and their paths to recovery can instill hope and motivation.
Lifelong Learning: Books serve as lifelong resources for continuous learning and growth. Individuals can refer back to mental health books whenever they need support, guidance, or a refresher on specific skills. Books can be revisited and utilized at different stages of life, allowing readers to deepen their understanding and refine their mental health skills over time.
The Power of Now
For me, this was a transformational read by Eckhart Tolle. I genuinely wish I'd read it sooner, but perhaps I was not ready to grasp the book's message then. We suffer with our thoughts until we tire of it and truly want to change. Then we are ready. Tolle's conceptualization of the Ego and Painbody was really helpful for me to understand and explore the connection between my thoughts and emotions. It has shifted my perspective on awareness of myself and others. Human behavior makes much more sense after this read.
~ Linda
Take Back Your Brain
Kara Loewentheil goes into detail about how societies norms unconsciously shape how we think, feel and act. The book clearly explains and demonstrate how we can take back out brains, by engaging in thought work to create new beliefs that are more helpful to how we want to experience our lives, and ultimately reshape our society norms.
Her coaching program was part of the randomized clinical trial, showing that “women physician trainees who received online group coaching over 4 months had substantial reductions in multiple dimensions of professional distress (burnout, moral injury, and impostor syndrome) and improvements in well-being (self-compassion and flourishing).”
~ Linda
The No Club
Written by four female science professors, it outlines the difference between promotable and non-promotable work. What actions and outcomes are valued in science, and which tasks are needed for our collective but won’t help you advance your career? How do we identify these and learn to say No? Balancing our workload and avoiding too many non-promotable tasks significantly impact our professional trajectory.
~ Linda
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?
This book, by Dr. Julie Smith, was recommended to me by a friend and is truly a valuable resource full of tools and techniques to strengthen and maintain one's mental health. Advice covers a range of topics, including anxiety management, dealing with criticism, coping with depression, building self-confidence, finding motivation, and practicing self-forgiveness. The book presents practical solutions in easily digestible entries. It is easy to go back and listen again to specific information and guidance quickly. It is an empathetic guide that offers proven strategies to deepen understanding of the mind and nurture mental health on a daily basis. Wise and practical.
~ Linda
Full Catastrophe Living
The author Jon Kabat-Zinn developed the concept of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), used today in medical centers worldwide. MBSR is a structured program that combines mindfulness meditation, body awareness, and yoga practices to help individuals manage stress, cope with pain, and enhance overall well-being. This book is a comprehensive guide to implementing the principles and practices of MBSR in one's life. It provides detailed instructions, insights, and practical exercises to help individuals cultivate and apply mindfulness to various aspects of their lives. It encourages embracing experiences, both positive and negative, and approaching them with non-judgmental awareness. Integrating mindfulness into daily routines can develop resilience, reduce stress, and enhance overall quality of life.
~ Linda
Atomic Habits
The author James Clear explains that small habits and incremental changes significantly impact our lives. By consistently making small improvements, we can achieve remarkable long-term results. He introduces the concept of atomic habits, which are small actions that, when repeated consistently, lead to significant transformations. He emphasizes breaking bad habits and implementing four key principles: making habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. Clear provides practical strategies for habit formation and addresses common challenges. Individuals can create lasting positive changes in their lives by focusing on the process of habit formation and continuous improvement. This has been very helpful when reflecting on my current habits and how to introduce new ones I want to start.
~ Linda
Drama Free
Nedra Glover Tawwab empowers individuals to establish healthy boundaries, communicate effectively, and navigate relationships without unnecessary drama. Tawwab emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, self-care, and self-reflection as foundational elements for building healthy and fulfilling connections with others. She addresses common unhealthy communication patterns, codependency, and conflict that can create relationship drama. Nedra provides practical strategies, insights, and tools to help readers set boundaries, manage emotions, and cultivate healthier dynamics in their interactions with others. Showing how to break free from patterns of drama, establish healthier relationships, and live a more authentic and fulfilling life. By taking responsibility for our actions and choices, practicing effective communication, and prioritizing our well-being, we can create more peaceful and harmonious connections with others.
~ Linda
A New Earth
Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth" expands upon the concepts presented in "The Power of Now" and explores the egoic mind's impact on personal and collective consciousness. It delves into topics such as identity, relationships, and societal structures, offering insights into how to transcend egoic patterns and create a more awakened and harmonious world. "A New Earth" has a broader scope, delving into deeper philosophical and spiritual concepts. It explores the collective ego and its manifestations in human behavior, relationships, and society at large. The book offers insights on how to awaken to a new level of consciousness and contribute to the evolution of humanity.
~ Linda
Homecoming
Recognizing signs of disconnection from oneself is crucial, as they can manifest in various ways such as people-pleasing, depression, anxiety, and resentment. In the book "Homecoming," Dr. Thema emphasizes the healing process, which involves acknowledging and expressing emotions honestly and reconnecting with neglected parts of oneself. However, this journey cannot be undertaken in isolation.
Dr. Thema equips readers with the tools to foster meaningful connections with their larger communities, even in the face of challenges such as racism, sexism, heartbreak, grief, and trauma. Instead of shrinking from life's difficulties, "Homecoming" guides readers toward therapeutic approaches and spiritual practices that enable them to lead more expansive lives. These practices promote empowerment, healthier relationships, gratitude, and a deeper sense of purpose.
Through "Homecoming," readers can explore ways to heal, grow, and find a sense of belonging. By embracing the tools provided by Dr. Thema, individuals can navigate life's hardships with resilience and cultivate a greater sense of fulfillment.
~ Linda
The 5 Love Languages
In this book, Gary Chapman explores the idea that people express and receive love in different ways. This is important in all close relationships and greatly affects our overall well-being. The main ways we express and receive love that feels meaningful to us are: Words of Affirmation: Some people feel loved when they receive verbal appreciation and compliments. Quality Time: Spending focused, quality time with loved ones is essential for some individuals. Receiving Gifts: Certain people feel loved when they receive thoughtful gifts, as it shows care and attention. Acts of Service: Doing kind and helpful things for someone can be a powerful way to express love. Physical Touch: Physical affection, like hugs, kisses, and holding hands, is crucial for some to feel loved.
Identifying and understanding your partner's, friend's, or family member's primary love language, as well as recognizing your own, can greatly improve communication and strengthen relationships. Often we give through the language we want to receive love, affection, and appreciation. But if we do not 'speak' the same language, it might feel like we are not getting through to someone or are not getting our own emotional needs met. Changing how we communicate with the people closest to us sometimes has profound effects.
~ Linda
Set Boundaries, Find Peace
The book focuses on the importance of setting healthy boundaries in various aspects of life, such as relationships, work, and self-care. Tawwab emphasizes that boundaries are essential for our well-being and for maintaining healthy relationships. Her practical advice has helped me a lot on how to think and establish boundaries, communicate them effectively, and navigate the challenges that may arise. She describes the skills needed to create a more balanced and peaceful life by setting and maintaining boundaries that align with one's needs and values.
~ Linda
Mindsight
In his book "Mindsight", Daniel J. Siegel explores the concept of mindsight, which is the ability to perceive, understand, and influence our own minds. Developing mindsight can increase our emotional intelligence and improve our relationships and mental well-being. By cultivating mindfulness and empathy, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their own thoughts and emotions and those of others, ultimately leading to more compassionate and fulfilling lives. I really enjoyed the practical exercises and insights gained from Mindsight. It has been very useful and thought-provoking for applying it to various personal and professional life aspects, e.g., the Hand Model of the Brain.
~ Linda
The Science behind Tapping
Dr Peta Stapleton is an associate Professor at Bond University in Australia, and a world-leading researcher in the Emotional Freedom Techniques referred to as ‘Tapping’. In this book, she explains how it is performed and the scientific studies behind the technique. I found it very instructive and warmly recommend her YouTube channel, were she posts videos summarizing research updates: https://www.youtube.com/@DrPetaStapleton
~ Linda
Rest
Why you get more done when you work less
It is a myth that we get more done by systematically working overtime and extra hours. When we start letting go of our belief in that cultural norm and face the fear we have of "falling behind others" if we don't "work all the time". Also, we can challenge the belief that detaching from work is impossible by setting boundaries and seeing what happens. We can start building space for rest into our everyday schedule. Then we will find, as Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, that with more rest, we actually get more done.
~ Linda
Bold Move
Shift, approach, align: Harvard-based psychotherapist Dr. Luana Marques explores science-backed methods to work with and manage anxiety and avoidance. It includes stories from patients, which makes this book easy to relate and understand.
~ Linda
Beating Burnout at Work
This book, by Paula Davis, presents a holistic and practical approach to handling burnout in the workplace and building resilience. She describes how we can work on burnout prevention in teams, what different factors contribute to burnout at work, and how to counteract them.
~ Linda
The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety
Fear severely hinders engagement, learning, productivity, and innovation, yet practical guidance on creating an environment where employees feel safe to speak up and contribute has been limited. Timothy Clark, a social scientist and organizational consultant, offers a framework that guides individuals through the progressive stages of psychological safety.
~ Sami & Linda
It is important to note that while books can provide valuable information and tools for mental health, they should not replace professional help when needed. For individuals facing severe or persistent mental health issues, seeking assistance from qualified mental health professionals is essential. Books can complement therapy or counseling and serve as a valuable resource for personal growth and well-being.