3 Great Self-Help Books Written by Therapists
Some of my favorite self-help books of all time were written by therapists. It turns out therapists make great self-help authors: they’re compassionate, they have genuine expertise, and they’re full of stories.
Here are three exceptional books written by therapists and what makes them great:
Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay by Mira Kirshenbaum
Mira Kirshenbaum, a clinical director and psychotherapist, tackles one of the most agonizing decisions many people face: whether to stay in or leave a relationship. Rather than offering generic advice, Kirshenbaum presents a series of diagnostic questions that help readers cut through the emotional fog that often clouds relationship decisions.
What makes this book remarkable is Kirshenbaum's ability to translate complex therapeutic assessment techniques into accessible tools for everyday people. She doesn't romanticize relationships or push readers toward any particular outcome. Instead, she provides a framework for honest self-examination that respects the complexity of human connections while offering concrete steps toward clarity.
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Licensed clinical social worker Nedra Glover Tawwab addresses one of the most common struggles her clients face: the inability to set and maintain healthy boundaries. Her book transforms abstract therapeutic concepts into practical, actionable strategies that readers can implement immediately in their relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and romantic partners.
Tawwab's approach is refreshingly direct and culturally aware. She acknowledges how boundary-setting can be particularly challenging for people from communities where saying "no" is discouraged or seen as selfish. Her guidance helps readers navigate these cultural complexities while still prioritizing their mental health and well-being.
The book excels at providing specific language and scripts for difficult conversations, something that comes naturally to Tawwab from her years of coaching clients through similar challenges in therapy sessions. She understands that knowing you need boundaries and actually implementing them are two very different things.
It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine
Psychotherapist Megan Devine wrote this book from a place of profound personal and professional understanding of grief. After losing her partner in a tragic accident, she found herself on the receiving end of well-meaning but unhelpful advice about "moving on" and "finding closure." This experience, combined with her clinical expertise, led to a book that revolutionizes how we think about grief and loss.
Devine's central message—that some pain cannot and should not be fixed—challenges the predominant cultural narrative that all suffering is a problem to be solved. Instead, she offers validation and practical support for navigating grief without the pressure to "get over it" or return to some previous version of normalcy.
The book stands out for its unflinching honesty about the reality of loss and its rejection of toxic positivity. Devine provides tools for surviving grief rather than curing it, acknowledging that some experiences fundamentally change us and that this change isn't necessarily something to resist or overcome.
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When therapists write self-help books, they're essentially extending their practice beyond the confines of their offices, offering their accumulated wisdom and proven techniques to anyone willing to engage thoughtfully with their material.
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