Welcome to our Therapist Resource Roundup. Each quarter, we share a list of resources focused on a different theme our therapists often work through with clients. Every roundup will feature books, articles, videos, and podcasts that our therapists recommend for the topic at hand. These resources can help set you on a positive path, whether in a crisis or seeking to supplement your work in therapy. This edition is all about building self-confidence.
For many people, self-confidence is an uphill battle. “Believe in yourself, and anything is possible.” “The world is your oyster.” “Never dull your shine for somebody else.” While well-meaning, these inspirational messages can feel cliche and frustrating when your self-confidence is low. Building and maintaining self-confidence requires grace and intent — and maybe a handy resource or two from a trained therapist.
We’ve narrowed down some of the best therapist-approved books, podcasts, and videos to help you build self-confidence. Check out the resources below.
Book: “The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are” by Brené Brown
This resource is most helpful for those who…
- Fight against perfectionism
- Struggle with their worthiness
- Seek to connect with themselves and others in more authentic and compassionate ways
Top takeaways from therapist Anna Malles
Brene Brown’s writing is always warm, vulnerable, and incredibly relatable. As I read any of her books, I can easily hear her voice and feel as if she’s in the room with me, laughing at her herself and sharing her stories of struggle, hope, and words of wisdom. “The Gifts of Imperfection” is a beautiful summary of her research into wholehearted living and how shame gets in the way. She offers simple yet powerful practices for how to embrace your uniqueness, cultivate resilience, manage anxiety, and pursue creativity and purpose. Above all, Brown helps you to stop caring so much about what other people think.
Extras
In her podcast “Unlocking Us,” Brene Brown offers a special six-part series with her two sisters discussing The Gifts of Imperfection and their experiences working through each of the ten guideposts.
Podcast: “Super Soul Special,” Dr. Edith Eva Eger: The Choice
This resource is most helpful for those who…
- Struggle with trauma
Top takeaways from therapist Ali Flowers
Dr. Eger discusses her book “The Choice: Embrace the Possible.” In her book, she discusses her traumatic experiences at Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp both she and her sister endured. She shares how she has taken her grief and pain and found a way to heal and find resiliency. She has spent years working as a psychologist to help others find a healthy relationship with their trauma. Her story is inspiring and encourages us not to be prisoners of our past and allow our experiences to provide meaning in our suffering. She shares that our experiences can be an opportunity to discover the beauty within us.
Audiobook: “The Science of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: How to Build New Habits to Transform Your Life” by Kristin Neff, Ph.D. and Shauna Shapiro, Ph.D.
This resource is most helpful for those who…
- Want to understand self-love and self-compassion
Top takeaways from therapist Danae Kauffman
The audiobook provides psychoeducation and exercises for individuals to coach themselves through self-soothing and raised self-awareness. Both presenters discuss cultivating self-compassion to combat anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic grief.
Book: “Living Like You Mean It” by Ronald J. Frederick, Ph.D.
This resource is most helpful for those who…
- Struggle to understand and engage with their emotions, both intra- and interpersonally
Top takeaways from therapist H.M. Humphrey
The spirit of this book is to create an enriching and meaningful life through the power of emotional mindfulness. Frederick does a beautiful job of clearly articulating and explaining what emotion is. He shares why it’s essential to understand and how to engage with it mindfully. This book is easy to read and grasp, with many practical exercises to practice emotional mindfulness. He offers encouragement along the way, and readers will gain confidence in their ability to know themselves more fully and better identify their needs.
Video: TedTalk: “Time to Brave Up” by Kathy Caprino, YouTube
This resource is most helpful for women…
- Who are high-achieving and perfectionistic
- In leadership positions
- In business
Top takeaways from therapist Dr. Faith Drew
The presenter, Kathy Caprino, is a leadership coach with a background in business and marriage and family therapy. Caprino’s goal is to help advance women in the workplace. She uses her personal story to emphasize the value of women focusing on their needs and how that focus shapes self-esteem. I find the TedTalk motivational and relatable. Caprino provides practical exercises to help the viewer start self-reflecting.
Extras
Kathy has written several books and has a Podcast called “Finding Brave.” Her focus is on bravery and finding ways to speak up for your needs by first recognizing your needs and values. One of her mottos is, “Turning your mess into a message,” which feels real. We can all learn from things that feel out of control or difficult and learn from them or help others.
Podcast: “The Happiness Lab”
This resource is most helpful for those who…
- Look to improve their overall outlook on life
- Seek to gain a better understanding of self and their pursuit of happiness
Top takeaways from therapist Kelsee White
The Happiness Lab is a podcast hosted by Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology at Yale University. The podcast explores the latest scientific research on happiness and well-being and offers practical tips on how to live a happier and more fulfilling life. Santos examines common myths about happiness and explores the factors contributing to lasting well-being. She also discusses the challenges and pitfalls that can get in the way of our happiness, such as social comparison, materialism, and negative thinking patterns.
Book: “It’s Not Always Depression” by Hilary Jacobs Hendel
This resource is most helpful for those who…
- Want to build self-confidence by understanding their emotions
Top takeaways from therapist Dr. George Bitar
I appreciated how the book highlights that sadness, fear, anger, excitement, and joy are all valid and essential emotions. If we’re fearful or avoidant of those core emotions, we can easily lose touch with ourselves and the important signals that arise from our emotions. The book lays out a framework for getting to know our range of emotions and utilizing the energy those emotions create in a life-enhancing manner.
Looking for more support to build your self-confidence? Consider therapy.
Self-confidence can be easy to fracture and challenging to build. You deserve to feel at home and confident in yourself. Our therapists can help. We work with our clients to understand their history and what has influenced their feelings and behaviors. Reach out to us to get started.
