Best Therapy Book Recommendations for Therapists, Parents, & Kids (2025 Guide)
If you’re a therapist, parent, or caregiver looking for the best books to support children’s emotional growth, regulation, and healing, this list is for you. These recommendations cover everything from play therapy and nervous system regulation to parenting strategies and kid-friendly stories about emotions.
Whether you’re deepening your clinical practice, searching for parenting support, or helping kids understand their feelings, these books provide valuable tools and insights.
📚 Book Recommendations for Therapists
Aggression in Play Therapy by Lisa Dion
This book offers a powerful overview of Synergetic Play Therapy. Lisa Dion explains how the nervous system responds in play therapy, how to set boundaries effectively, and how to become an external regulator for clients. Therapists will find guidance on embracing aggression and other intense themes to make sessions more therapeutic.
Polyvagal Theory in Therapy by Deb Dana
Deb Dana’s work makes the complex concepts of Polyvagal Theory practical for therapy. With regulation strategies, activities, and exercises, this book helps therapists integrate nervous system mapping into sessions. It’s especially useful with older children and teens.
No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz, PhD
A cornerstone text on Internal Family Systems (IFS), this book helps therapists introduce the concept of “parts work.” Kids often understand the idea of having different parts inside of us, which makes it a useful tool for externalizing feelings and exploring emotional complexity.
Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
While not a traditional therapy book, Rest is Resistance challenges cultural narratives about productivity and rest. It invites therapists to reflect on their own pace of life, rest practices, and how they show up with kids and families in sessions.
👨👩👧 Book Recommendations for Parents & Caregivers
Parenting is challenging, especially when navigating big emotions. These books give parents and caregivers tools for fostering connection and resilience.
The Whole-Brain Child by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson, PhD
This parenting book breaks down brain science into easy-to-understand strategies for raising resilient, emotionally balanced kids. Siegel and Bryson provide 12 practical techniques that help parents connect with their children while teaching emotional regulation and problem-solving.
No-Drama Discipline by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson, PhD
A companion to The Whole-Brain Child, this book focuses on discipline through connection rather than punishment. Parents will learn how to respond to challenging behaviors with empathy, guide children toward better choices, and maintain strong relationships—even in stressful moments.
Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors by Robyn Gobbel
Perfect for parents raising children with intense emotions, trauma histories, or neurodivergence, this book offers a compassionate lens on “big behaviors.” Gobbel provides tools to understand what’s happening beneath the surface and strategies to support kids in moments of dysregulation.
How to Talk to Kids About Anything by Robyn Silverman, PhD
From everyday challenges to tough conversations, Silverman’s book equips parents with scripts and guidance for talking with children of all ages. It covers topics like confidence, anxiety, friendships, and difficult life changes—helping parents foster open, honest, and supportive communication.
🌟 Book Recommendations for Kids
Books can be a bridge for kids to understand emotions, trauma, and connection. Here are some of the best children’s books to use in therapy, classrooms, or at home.
Hey Warrior by Karen Young
Explains anxiety in a kid-friendly way, including what it feels like in the body and why it happens. A great introduction to the stress response.
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
A versatile story about staying connected even when apart. Perfect for separation anxiety, grief, or goodbyes, with opportunities for creative activities.
A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes
A gentle way to help children understand trauma and normalize their feelings after a difficult event.
Enjoy the Ride by Kate Stark, PhD
Covers the basics of emotions, how they feel in the body, and introduces healthy coping strategies for regulation.
I Feel… Something by DJ Corchin
Helps build interoception—kids’ ability to notice internal body cues—by describing how emotions feel inside us.
A Little Spot of… Series by Diane Alber
This popular series introduces emotions and concepts like empathy and belonging in a concrete, kid-friendly way. Especially helpful for young and neurodivergent children.
Final Thoughts
These book recommendations for therapists, parents, and kids cover essential topics like emotional regulation, trauma, parenting strategies, and childhood anxiety. Whether you’re a clinician seeking therapeutic tools, a parent wanting connection-based strategies, or a caregiver helping a child learn about their feelings, these resources offer research-backed guidance and practical support.
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