Counseling EDGE

These classics books are a great starting point for anyone in their journey of self-discovery.

		The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck This book is written by famous psychiatrist Scott Peck after years of working with clients. Packed full of in-depth insight, Peck is talking to anyone who has struggled in life. He speaks to us of discipline and love. You come away from reading this book loving yourself and loving this great therapist who "gets it" and wants to share it with the rest of us.
		The Four Agreements by Miquel Ruiz This is a simple, real book, that when practiced, can change your life. It proposes individuals make four agreements with themselves: to be impeccable with their words, to not take things personally, to not make assumptions, and to do their best. Miguel Ruiz explains the logic behind this Toltec wisdom and opens our eyes to a new way to live with ourselves and each other.
		The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Do you ever wonder why you are not as successful or happy as you would like to be? Chances are you lack practicing the 7 habits put forward by Stephen Covey. In a nutshell, Covey helps you to focus on yourself by giving you tangible techniques to practice and then shifts to how you interact with others. My husband reads a lot of business books and so I thought this would just be another boring read about financial success, but I soon realized the message resonates on a deeper level and can help individuals shape their lives.
		The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner Harriet Lerner does an excellent job showing how individuals engage in a “dance” with others. The book deals with the concept of over-functioning and under-functioning and explains how our emotions are not unhealthy; rather, the dysfunctional patterns or “dances” that do not serve our goals are. She helps the reader to identify broken behaviors and put in place new healthy ones. While anger is the focus of this book, I recommend it to anyone wanting to understand why they behave the way they do and how to respond to situations more effectively.
		Stop Walking on Eggshells by Paul Mason and Randi Kreger Stop Walking on Eggshells is a helpful book for anyone suffering from, or anyone who is the target of, radical mood swings and unstable relationships. This book was written about Borderline Personality Disorder and the effects it has on family members. While most people may have never heard of this disorder, borderline characteristics are prevalent in many families and are extremely dysfunctional. This book teaches individuals how to respond to and protect themselves from manipulative behaviors.
		Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray If you are married or ever plan on being in a relationship with the opposite sex, then this is a must read. Instead of attacking each other, why not start understanding why each person in the relationship responds and behaves differently. Gray includes simple strategies for communicating that can help minimize or eliminate common problems that most couples face. Whether you are male or female, you are sure to relate to the relational dilemmas presented in this book and hopefully be able to laugh some of the time.
		How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie I hesitated to read this book for years because I thought it would be about manipulating people and compromising personal ethics. When I finally read the book, I was pleasantly surprised. This turned out to be a classic book that reminds you how to treat other people. Carnegie’s suggestions can transform the way we communicate to not only make encounters more genuine but also to help us achieve our goals.