Books I'd recommend and free handouts.
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These are books I'd recommend for learning more about trauma, OCD and the ways we relate to our thoughts and emotions.
Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk
An exploration of how traumatic experiences can affect the brain, body and relationships. Bessel van der Kolk brings together research and clinical stories to explain why trauma can continue to shape everyday life. The book discusses a range of approaches to recovery, including body-based practices.
Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
Richard C. Schwartz
An introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS), which understands our inner world as made up of different parts. Richard Schwartz offers exercises for meeting those parts with curiosity and compassion, including the inner critic and protective responses. The focus is on understanding yourself rather than judging difficult feelings.
Healing Trauma
Peter A. Levine, with Ann Frederick
Peter Levine explores trauma through the body's survival responses and introduces the ideas behind Somatic Experiencing. Through explanations and body-awareness exercises, the book invites readers to notice physical sensations and understand how the nervous system responds to overwhelming experiences.
A CBT-Based Guide to Move Beyond Obsessive Doubt, Anxiety, and Fear of Commitment in Romantic Relationships
Sheva Rajaee
A guide to the obsessive doubts and relationship anxiety that can accompany relationship OCD. Sheva Rajaee uses cognitive behavioural approaches to explore doubts about a partner and fear of commitment. The book focuses on responding differently to intrusive thinking while maintaining the values of a healthy relationship.
A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts
Sally M. Winston and Martin N. Seif
This book explains why unwanted thoughts can feel so alarming, and why trying to suppress them can keep the cycle going. Sally Winston and Martin Seif offer cognitive behavioural strategies for changing how you respond to intrusive thoughts. The emphasis is on relating differently to thoughts, rather than treating them as facts about who you are.
Kristin Neff
A guide to responding to yourself with more kindness when you feel inadequate, make a mistake or face a difficult moment. Kristin Neff explores self-compassion as an alternative to harsh self-criticism and the pressure to constantly prove your worth. The book includes practical exercises for bringing that approach into everyday life.
These printable sheets can support reflection between sessions. You can bring anything you notice into your next appointment.
A seven-column worksheet for exploring a difficult situation, the feelings it brings up and the thoughts that follow. Use it to compare evidence, consider a more balanced perspective and reflect on how you feel afterwards.
Carol Vivyan, Get Self Help, 2010
Download PDFA reference sheet explaining common patterns of unhelpful thinking, including catastrophizing, all-or-nothing thinking and 'should' statements. It can help you name the patterns you notice and bring them into a conversation with your therapist.
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