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Resources
 

This recommended collection of books and podcasts can offer a gateway to exploring and discussing wellness, self-care, and mental health, while also delivering insights into some of life's greatest challenges.

Anxiety

Books

  1. "Rewire Your Anxious Brain" by Catherine M. Pittman, PhD, and Elizabeth M. Karle
    This book explains the neuroscience of anxiety, focusing on how the brain's amygdala and cortex contribute to it, with tools for rewiring these responses through mindfulness and cognitive restructuring​.

  2. "Hardcore Self Help: Fk Anxiety" by Robert Duff, PhD**
    Written in a casual and relatable tone, this book simplifies complex psychological concepts into actionable steps for managing anxiety​.

  3. "Badass Ways to End Anxiety & Stop Panic Attacks!" by Geert Verschaeve
    This book challenges readers to confront anxiety head-on with mindfulness, exposure therapy, and cognitive-behavioral techniques​.

  4. "How Not to Worry" by Paul McGee
    Offers a practical and humorous guide to managing worry through small, impactful changes.

  5. "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" by Edmund Bourne, PhD
    A comprehensive resource featuring exercises for managing anxiety and phobias using evidence-based strategies like CBT and mindfulness.

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Podcasts

  1. "Your Anxiety Toolkit" by Kimberly Quinlan, LMFT
    Provides practical tools for managing anxiety, OCD, and depression, with a focus on actionable strategies​.

  2. "The Anxiety Guy Podcast" by Dennis Simsek
    Explores various mental health challenges, offering relatable advice to manage and overcome anxiety​.

  3. "Unlocking Us" by Brené Brown
    Focuses on vulnerability, courage, and resilience, touching on the emotional aspects of anxiety and human connection​

  4. "The Panic Pod" by Joshua Fletcher
    Discusses the psychology of anxiety and offers insights into managing panic attacks and social anxiety​.

Trauma & PTSD

Books

  1. "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
    A foundational text that explores how trauma affects the brain and body, offering insights into healing through both conventional and alternative methods.

  2. "What My Bones Know" by Stephanie Foo
    A compelling memoir on living with and healing from complex PTSD, emphasizing resilience and intergenerational trauma recovery.

  3. "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker
    A practical guide for understanding and recovering from childhood trauma, with an emphasis on emotional regulation and building resilience.

  4. "The Deepest Well" by Nadine Burke Harris, M.D.
    Explores the long-term effects of childhood adversity on health and provides evidence-based tools for recovery.

  5. "Healing Trauma" by Peter A. Levine, Ph.D.
    Offers somatic experiencing techniques to help release trauma stored in the body.

  6. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
    A memoir detailing the author’s experiences with trauma and her path to healing through self-expression.

  7. "The Complex PTSD Workbook" by Arielle Schwartz, Ph.D.
    Provides actionable exercises for managing symptoms and building emotional resilience.

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Podcasts

  1. "The Trauma Therapist Podcast"
    Hosted by Guy Macpherson, this podcast features interviews with trauma professionals, providing insights into treatment and healing practices.

  2. "Therapy in a Nutshell"
    Covers practical techniques and strategies for managing trauma symptoms and understanding the healing process. 

  3. "Transforming Trauma" (by the NARM Training Institute)
    Focuses on healing from developmental and relational trauma through the lens of neuroaffective relational models.

  4. "The Healing Trauma Podcast"
    Offers personal stories and expert advice on overcoming the effects of trauma.

Relationships

Books

  1. "Rewire Your Anxious Brain" by Catherine M. Pittman, PhD, and Elizabeth M. Karle
    This book explains the neuroscience of anxiety, focusing on how the brain's amygdala and cortex contribute to it, with tools for rewiring these responses through mindfulness and cognitive restructuring.

  2. "Hardcore Self Help: Fk Anxiety" by Robert Duff, PhD**
    Written in a casual and relatable tone, this book simplifies complex psychological concepts into actionable steps for managing anxiety.

  3. "Badass Ways to End Anxiety & Stop Panic Attacks!" by Geert Verschaeve
    This book challenges readers to confront anxiety head-on with mindfulness, exposure therapy, and cognitive-behavioral techniques.

  4. "How Not to Worry" by Paul McGee
    Offers a practical and humorous guide to managing worry through small, impactful changes.

  5. "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" by Edmund Bourne, PhD
    A comprehensive resource featuring exercises for managing anxiety and phobias using evidence-based strategies like CBT and mindfulness.

​

Podcasts

  1. "Your Anxiety Toolkit" by Kimberly Quinlan, LMFT
    Provides practical tools for managing anxiety, OCD, and depression, with a focus on actionable strategies.

  2. "The Anxiety Guy Podcast" by Dennis Simsek
    Explores various mental health challenges, offering relatable advice to manage and overcome anxiety.

  3. "Unlocking Us" by Brené Brown
    Focuses on vulnerability, courage, and resilience, touching on the emotional aspects of anxiety and human connection​

  4. "The Panic Pod" by Joshua Fletcher
    Discusses the psychology of anxiety and offers insights into managing panic attacks and social anxiety.

Teens and Young Adults

Books

  1. "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers" by Lisa Damour, PhD
    This book offers actionable advice for understanding teen behavior, emotional regulation, and fostering strong relationships between teens and their families.

  2. "Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood" by Lisa Damour, PhD
    Damour provides insight into the emotional and developmental changes that adolescent girls go through, offering strategies for understanding and supporting them.

  3. "Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain" by Daniel J. Siegel, MD
    Siegel explains the science behind adolescent behavior, shedding light on how the brain's development impacts mood and decision-making, and offering communication strategies for adults.

  4. "The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love" by Sonya Renee Taylor
    This book advocates for radical self-love and body acceptance, challenging societal norms and offering empowerment, particularly useful for teens facing body image issues.

  5. "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
    This novel centers on Julia, a young Mexican-American girl dealing with grief, identity, and familial expectations. It delves into the pressures of cultural norms and the complexities of being a Latina daughter in a traditional family.

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Podcasts

  1. "BeingMe"
    Hosted by Dr. Neha Chaudhary, this podcast explores stress, social media, friendships, and mental health, offering expert advice and stories from teens navigating these challenges.

  2. "Teenager Therapy"
    A popular podcast run by a group of teens, discussing mental health, vulnerability, relationships, and self-discovery, with insights from guests and real-life experiences.

  3. "On Our Minds"
    Sponsored by PBS, this podcast tackles mental health topics relevant to teens, with expert insights and youth voices sharing their experiences and advice.

  4. "The She Persisted Podcast"
    Hosted by Sadie Sutton, this podcast focuses on mental health challenges for teens, including anxiety, relationships, and self-esteem, with advice for empowerment and growth.

  5. "The Gen-Z POD" by Dia Khandelwal
    This podcast offers an insightful exploration of the issues facing Gen-Z, like body shaming and emotional invalidation, focusing on mental health and personal development.

Sex & Intimacy

​Books

  1. "So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex" by Ian Kerner
    Published in 2022, this practical guide uses real-life scenarios to help couples explore their sexual connection, identify patterns, and build healthier intimacy.

  2. "Come as You Are" by Emily Nagoski
    This book delves into the science of sexual desire and offers practical advice on understanding and embracing personal sexuality​.

  3. "Mating in Captivity" by Esther Perel
    A thought-provoking exploration of how to maintain passion in long-term relationships while balancing emotional intimacy​

  4. "Tell Me What You Want" by Justin Lehmiller
    Based on a comprehensive study of sexual fantasies, this book examines the psychology behind desires and how to integrate them into healthy relationships​

  5. "Sex, Love, and Mental Illness" by Stephanie J. Buehler
    A guide for couples navigating the challenges of mental health and its effects on intimacy and sexuality​

  6. "ACE: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex" by Angela Chen
    A resource for understanding asexuality and redefining societal narratives about sex and identity​

​

Podcasts

  1. "Sex with Emily" by Emily Morse
    Covering a range of topics, this podcast offers education and advice on sexual health and intimacy.

  2. "Modern Love"
    Adapted from the New York Times column, this podcast shares diverse stories about love, including the challenges of intimacy​

  3. "Queer Relationships, Queer Joy"
    A celebratory podcast focusing on LGBTQ+ love and intimacy, offering a positive perspective​

Infidelity

Books

  1. "The State of Affairs" by Esther Perel
    This book challenges traditional views on infidelity and explores why people cheat, the trauma it causes, and how couples can use the experience as an opportunity for growth.

  2.  "Not 'Just Friends': Rebuilding Trust and Recovering Your Sanity After Infidelity" by Shirley P. Glass
    A comprehensive guide that provides practical advice for couples affected by infidelity, addressing emotional healing and trust rebuilding.

  3. "After the Affair: Healing the Pain and Rebuilding Trust When a Partner Has Been Unfaithful" by Janis A. Spring
    Offers actionable steps for both the betrayed and the betrayer to recover and rebuild their relationship.

  4. "Anatomy of an Affair" by Dave Carder
    Examines the root causes of infidelity and provides guidance to prevent or recover from affairs.

  5. "Getting Past the Affair: A Program to Help You Cope, Heal, and Move On – Together or Apart" by Douglas K. Snyder, Donald H. Baucom, and Kristina Coop Gordon
    A structured guide for couples dealing with the immediate aftermath of an affair, with steps for understanding and decision-making.

  6. "How Can I Forgive you?  The Courage to Forgive, the Freedom Not to" by Janis A. Spring
    Focuses on forgiveness as a choice, offering strategies for those who have been wronged and those seeking to be forgiven. It applies well to the context of infidelity and other breaches of trust.

 

Podcasts

  1. "Where Should We Begin?" by Esther Perel
    This series features real-life therapy sessions, offering insights into various relationship dynamics​.

  2. "Sex with Emily" by Emily Morse
    Covering a range of topics, this podcast offers education and advice on sexual health and intimacy​.

  3. "Modern Love"
    Adapted from the New York Times column, this podcast shares diverse stories about love, including the challenges of intimacy​.

  4. "Queer Relationships, Queer Joy"
    A celebratory podcast focusing on LGBTQ+ love and intimacy, offering a positive perspective.​

Organizations
 

These organizations are dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, strengthening people's emotional well-being, and providing resources for individuals and communities. Whether you are seeking guidance, tools, resources, or even a sense of connection, these organizations can help foster resilience, community, and promote an overall well-being.

Matthew Hererra, M.A., AMFT #136003 is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California under the supervision of Lisa Jellison, M.A., LMFT#46430.

Telehealth available throughout ALL of California 

The Feeling Space
A Marriage and Family Therapy Corporation is based online in California.


Santa Monica Location:

720 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 204 Santa Monica, CA 90401 

 

(562) 265 - 8867  |  mattherreramft@gmail.com | 

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