I learn so many new things in my therapy sessions, but I often don’t remember it all OR don’t start using what I learned.
So when my psychiatrist or therapist suggest a book to read or a workbook, I know it’s something that will help me work through my mental health struggles.
If you look on Amazon, there are tons of workbooks for Anxiety, Depression, PTSD and other mental illnesses. But you don’t want to waste your money, so I have compiled a list of workbooks I know to be worthwhile.
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Books Psychologists Recommend
*Note: If I am looking for a book that has information about mental illness and how to cope with it, I make sure it is written by a mental health professional (usually either a M.D. or licensed therapist.)
This list is either something I have personally used or one of my mental health care professionals have recommended throughout my years of treatment.
1. The Anxiety, Worry & Depression Workbook: 65 Exercises, Worksheets & Tips
- Easy-to-use guide is full of practical, proven worksheets, self-monitoring forms, exercises and scripts
- Interactive workbook written by Jennifer Abel PhD with over 25 + years of clinical experience
Best Workbooks for Depression
Living with depression can feel like you are under a heavy and dark cloud and it’s hard to carry all of the feelings that depression causes. Having effective coping strategies to work through your depression is key to making a better life for yourself. These cognitive behavioral therapy workbooks can put you on a path to wellness.
2. The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression
- The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step-by-Step Program (New Harbinger Self-help Workbooks)
- Knaus EdD, William J. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Complete step-by-step approach that you can work through on your own or with your therapist
- Uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
- Author: Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and director of the Procrastination Research Group Bill Knaus
3. The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living with Depression and Manic Depression
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Mary Ellen Copeland (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
4. The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
- Strosahl PhD, Kirk D (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 328 Pages - 05/01/2017 (Publication Date) - New Harbinger Publications (Publisher)
Best CBT Books for Anxiety
To outsiders, anxiety can look irrational. But to those of us who experience anxiety it is very real and hard to control. Along with the right treatment from a licensed professional (which may include meds and therapy), cognitive behavioral therapy workbooks are very helpful.
5. The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety: A Step-by-Step Program
- Knaus EdD, William J. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 280 Pages - 11/01/2014 (Publication Date) - New Harbinger Publications (Publisher)
6. The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook
- Bourne PhD, Edmund J. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 488 Pages - 03/01/2015 (Publication Date) - New Harbinger Publications (Publisher)
7. The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workbook for Panic Attacks
- Welsh PhD, Elena (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 138 Pages - 10/01/2019 (Publication Date) - Althea Press (Publisher)
8. Managing Social Anxiety: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach
Best PTSD Workbook
There are many reasons someone develops Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Past harmful and extremely life-changing experiences make it hard to see life from a hopeful and happy perspective. The following cognitive behavioral therapy workbooks teach you techniques to work through your symptoms and ways to improve the quality of life for you.
9. The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms
10. The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole
Bipolar Disorder CBT Workbooks
Learning how to live with Bipolar Disorder can be challenging. Since you don’t how or when to expect future manic or depressive episodes, you have to be proactive. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with the right medications are key to managing your diagnosis.
11. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder: Using DBT to Regain Control of Your Emotions and Your Life
12. The Bipolar Disorder Workbook: Powerful Tools and Practical Resources for Bipolar II and Cyclothymia
13. The Bipolar Workbook, Second Edition: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings
14. The Bipolar II Disorder Workbook: Managing Recurring Depression, Hypomania, and Anxiety
Workbooks for OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be extremely disrupting to your life. It is a difficult medical condition to live with but there are many cognitive behavioral therapy techniques that can teach you how to work through the symptoms of your illness. These CBT workbooks are a great place to start.
15. The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD
16. The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
17. The Complete OCD Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Free Yourself from Intrusive Thoughts and Compulsive Behaviors
Therapy Workbooks for Borderline Personality Disorder
18. Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder
19. The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook: An Integrative Program to Understand and Manage Your BPD
20. Borderline Personality Disorder: The Ultimate BPD Workbook
Read About More Mental Health Strategies . . .
- 14 Top (Binge-Worthy) Podcasts About Mental Health
- SAD Lights Reviews [Best Light Therapy Lamps For Depression On Amazon]
- 15 Anxiety Mental Health Apps (That Will Give You A Healthy Boost)
- Top-Notch Resource Guide For Overcoming Anxiety And Dealing With Depression
- 60+ Thoughtful Gift Ideas For Someone With Depression
Living with a mental illness is hard. Period.
But there is hope for all of us. We just have to keep working and continue whatever treatment (meds, therapy, support groups) our mental health care professional prescribes. Recovering, improving, or stabilizing our mind and body requires constant effort.