We want to constantly reinforce awareness and sometimes that means reading a lot of good books. Whether it is mental health for pastors or ways to integrate Christian practices into counseling sessions, we have it below.
We will only be recommending books we think are worth it and will have links to reviews for those who want to better understand why we think this is a good book for you. This will be an ever-growing list, so hit us up on social media if you think of a book that is not featured below.
Troubled Minds
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
In Troubled Minds Amy Simpson, whose family knows the trauma and bewilderment of mental illness, reminds us that people with mental illness are our neighbors and our brothers and sisters in Christ, and she shows us the path to loving them well and becoming a church that loves God with whole hearts and whole souls, with the strength we have and with minds that are whole as well as minds that are troubled.
Mental Health and the Church
In Mental Health and the Church, Dr. Stephen Grcevich presents a simple and flexible model for mental health inclusion ministry for implementation by churches of all sizes, denominations, and organizational styles. The model is based upon recognition of seven barriers to church attendance and assimilation resulting from mental illness: stigma, anxiety, self-control, differences in social communication and sensory processing, social isolation and past experiences of church.
Grace For The Afflicted
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Why has the church struggled in ministering to those with mental illnesses? Each day men and women diagnosed with mental disorders are told they need to pray more and turn from their sin. Mental illness is equated with demonic possession, weak faith, and generational sin. As both a church leader and a professor of psychology and behavioral sciences, Matthew S. Stanford has seen far too many mentally ill brothers and sisters damaged by well-meaning believers who respond to them out of fear or misinformation rather than grace.
Disability and the Church
Disability and the Church is a practical and theological reconsideration of the church’s responsibilities to the disabled community. Too often disabled persons are pushed away from the church or made to feel unwelcome in any number of ways. As Hardwick writes, This should not be. He insists that the good news of Jesus affirms God’s image in all people, and he offers practical steps and strategies to build stronger, truly inclusive communities of faith.
I Love Jesus, But I Want To Die
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
In I Love Jesus, but I Want to Die, author and experienced ministry leader Sarah J. Robinson offers fresh perspective to the Church and life-giving hope for those who live with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Robinson shares proven tools and simple practices that empower readers to fight for wholeness, giving them the confidence that they are not alone in their suffering and they are worth whatever it takes to get well.
Anxious
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Anxious: Choosing Faith in a World of Worry by Amy Simpson is a book on the mental health topic it’s titled after. It explores as Christians how we are to respond to situation and personal stories of anxiety, noting that the easy “Christian quips” of “just pray more” are not helpful and then gives Scripture and practical advice on how to proceed. The personal nature of this book makes it feel authentic, giving insight into big concerns like her experience of coming toe to toe with a bear in Alaska, but also trying to control how her day or week may go in a stressful week.
Try Softer
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
This is a book written by a Christian clinical counselor for those seeking to deal with mental health problems or those who are currently struggling. When our natural orientation for dealing with difficult things to do more, work harder, and push through, sometimes the opposite reaction is actually better. My initial expectations greatly exceeded as I got into this. I had expected one where boundaries were not firm, the focus would be more on spiritual coaching or guidance and not clinical application, and it would read to a more female audience. I could not have been more wrong and find this book to be a great resource for those who want to understand clinical counseling better.
Strong Like Water
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Aundi Kolber is a Christian counselor with a history of her own complex trauma and a heart to serve and counsel those who have gone threw their own trauma or hurt. If you haven’t read my previous review of Aundi’s other book, Try Softer, you can see it here that looks at the idea of approaching hurt and pain in a more gentle and caring way. This mentality is furthered in this book, but specifically talking in the sense of trauma. As with her previous book, Aundi gives a strong psychoeducational lesson on what trauma is, through the lens of someone with lived experience as well as a professional understanding.
Beyond the Clinical Hour
Jim Sells, Amy Trout, and Heather Sells collaborated to bring together a book out of necessity in seeing some of the shortcomings within the mental health profession. It is no secret as we have shared about the national shortage of counselors, so this book looks at how the Church can and has an obligation to come alongside those with mental illness to serve them better.
The Soul of the Helper
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Holly Oxhandler is not only a Christian who understands mental health, but has her own Christian mental health podcast that she co-hosts at CXMH Podcast and an associate professor and associate dean for research and faculty development at Baylor University in social work. If you follow her online or read any of her other material, you will find she is a caring person not only for the individual who is struggling from mental health, but those that have made a choice to serve people with mental health problems, whether professional or otherwise.
The Other Half of Church
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
The Other Half of Church is at it’s core a book by a pastor who had a surprise relationship with a Christian neuroscientist that helped the pastor look at how they see relationships. It talks about the sanctity of God and its impact of the salvation of man as well as how neuron pathways impact brain functioning and development. While the book does not specifically label treatment modalities, the book functions within the clinical modalities of Attachment Theory and Family Systems Theory.
Disability and the Gospel
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
I’ve heard it said that if a faith is only for those who are whole and not wounded, broken, or in need of redemptive grace, then it isn’t the Christian faith. In Disability and the Gospel, Michael S. Beates in collaboration with Joni Eareckson Tada, offers a theological exploration of disability in the Christian context, challenging long-held misconceptions and inviting the Church to embrace individuals with disabilities as an integral part of the Body of Christ. For Christian counselors and pastors, this book is an invaluable resource for understanding the intersection of theology, suffering, and inclusion in ministry.
Sharing Love Abundantly In Special Needs Families
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Between the worry, the doctor’s appointments, and the thousand small challenges of everyday life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. The idea of showing abundant love to every member of your family can feel like a daunting task. Jolene Philo has been there. And in this wise, warm, practical guide, she and Dr. Gary Chapman show you how the 5 love languages can help strengthen your marriage and family life—whatever your needs.
Dreamland
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
In 1929, in the blue-collar city of Portsmouth, Ohio, a company built a swimming pool the size of a football field; named Dreamland, it became the vital center of the community. Now, addiction has devastated Portsmouth, as it has hundreds of small rural towns and suburbs across America–addiction like no other the country has ever faced. How that happened is the riveting story of Dreamland.
The Body Keeps the Score
Amazon | Audible | Our Review (coming soon)
Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Such experiences inevitably leave traces on minds, emotions, and even on biology. Sadly, trauma sufferers frequently pass on their stress to their partners and children.
Renowned trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he transforms our understanding of traumatic stress, revealing how it literally rearranges the brain’s wiring—specifically areas dedicated to pleasure, engagement, control, and trust. He shows how these areas can be reactivated through innovative treatments including neurofeedback, mindfulness techniques, play, yoga, and other therapies.
Why Am I Like This?
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
As a Christian counselor, I am always on the lookout for insightful books that not only offer practical guidance but also align with a Christian worldview. Kobe Campbell’s “Why Am I Like This?” is a profound and enriching read that I believe can be a significant resource for Christians struggling with questions about their identity, emotional health, and faith. Campbell, a licensed trauma therapist and mental health expert, brings a unique blend of personal experience, professional insight, and biblical wisdom to her readers.
Afraid of All the Things
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Fear is something we all deal with, but for some, it can feel like an ever-present shadow, constantly lurking in the background. In Afraid of All the Things, Scarlet Hiltibidal explores the intricate relationship between anxiety, fear, and faith in a refreshingly authentic and humorous way. This memoir, interwoven with biblical truths, personal stories, and a healthy dose of laughter, is a heartfelt invitation to let go of fear and trust in God.
Anatomy of the Soul
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Our hope is in identifying how the Church can go to serve those with mental illness as well as their families and clinical counselors can integrate Christian theology and practice into the counseling session with their clients. The book Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson may be a bit more niche as he looks at the intersection of neuroscience and faith.
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
The topic of mental health is not a new topic, but one the Church has begun to embrace more and more of. While we talk about big implications with regards to mental illness, sin and suicide, or the ramifications of substance misuse on the soul, the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero takes on what it means to have good mental health with regards to our faith.
Dear Anxiety, Let’s Break Up
Anxiety has become so prevalent leading to millions of people so afflicted that they are diagnosable with a disorder. We know that God’s Word is a light of hope, but what does it have to say about mental health and specifically anxiety, other than the poorly quoted “give up anxiety?” Amanda Porter, PhD has combined Scripture through a devotional on this top to give a 40 day guide for those who struggle to start their morning right in her book Dear Anxiety, Let’s Break Up.
The Struggle Is Real
Amazon | Our Review (coming soon)
These and many other problems confront our culture today in alarming proportions. Consequently, mental and relational health issues find their way home. To everyones home.
People with these and other concerns typically turn first to the church for help. Yet most churches are not equipped to adequately minister to the depth and magnitude of these overwhelming problems. This book was created as a comprehensive resource to provide the church with practical tools to care for these hurting people in a biblically sound and emotionally healthy way.
Boundaries
Amazon | Audible | Our Review (coming soon)
Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Boundaries impact all areas of our lives. Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend offer biblically-based answers to these and other tough questions, showing us how to set healthy boundaries with our parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and even ourselves.
Boundaries for Your Soul
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Do your emotions control you or do you control your emotions? Many people let guilt, anger, or self-criticism dominate their lives and negatively affect their relationships. Boundaries for Your Soul shows you how to calm the chaos within.
Forgiving What You Can’t Forget
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
Lysa TerKeurst’s “Forgiving What You Can’t Forget” delves into the complex and challenging topic of forgiveness with a compassionate and insightful approach. She combines her personal experiences with a deep understanding of biblical principles to guide readers through the process of forgiving when it seems impossible. The concept of forgiveness is already a difficult one, but when you want to teach it to others from a place where you have done it well for others, it is compelling. As a Christian counselor, I am humbled and inspired by her story and teachings.
It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
What went wrong? Why did God let this happen?
Reality often ends up so very far from the life we long for, doesn’t it? Bible teacher Lysa TerKeurst deeply understands daily disappointments and life-altering loss. By walking through her own valley, she’s discovered that in God we can find unexpected strength as we wrestle well between our faith and feelings.
I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help!
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
About 50% of all people with schizophrenia and manic-depression do not understand that they are ill and refuse treatment.
Whether you are a family member or a therapist, in this book you will find hope in what the new research is revealing about the problem of poor insight into illness.
The Youth Worker’s Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis
When youth work becomes crisis managers. Anyone who stays in youth ministry for a while will encounter significant crises. Family break-ups, substance abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, cutting, suicide, gun violence But without proper and immediate care, crises like these can cause years of emotional pain and spiritual scarring in students.
Sparks of Redemptive Grace
Mental illness impacts millions of families each year. Sparks of Redemptive Grace provides an authentic view of one family’s transparent hope in God’s unfailing love, hewn in the fires of fear and faith.
Group’s Emergency Response Handbook for Youth Ministry
Amazon | Our Review (coming soon)
Teens face difficult, painful stuff in life–and they shouldn’t struggle alone. But what do you say? How do you help? What if you make things worse?
This rapid-response handbook gives you and your youth group the confidence to share God’s love and comfort with hurting friends.
Anxious For Nothing
Amazon | Audible | Our Review
When it comes to anxiety, depression, and stress-related illnesses, America is the frontrunner. Thankfully, there’s a practical prescription for dealing with them. Anxious for Nothing, from New York Times bestselling author, Max Lucado, provides a roadmap for battling with and healing from anxiety.