Recommended Books
Below you will find books that have been valuable to Dawn in her own healing or those recommended by some of our panelists. Check back for occasional new additions.
We also welcome your suggestions. Please submit them on our contact form, along with a sentence or two regarding what you liked about the book and/or how it helped you. We may print your first name, but never your full name.
Book Recommendation Highlights
Recommended for Stage 1 – Survival
Women Who Love Psychopaths, 3rd Edition
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Sandra L. Brown, MA presents her seminal research into the character traits of women who are targeted by and stay in relationships with Cluster B personality disorder partners. Far from the stereotype of a codependent abused woman, Women Who Love Psychopaths reveals a picture of the kind of person societies need more of – strong, educated, extroverted, high in empathy, compassionate, responsible and resourceful. A must read in any stage of recovery; highly recommended for therapists.
Lisa Aronson Fontes, PhD presents Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship, a book that finally names the insidious cluster of controlling behaviors that enslave and degrade partners in toxic relationships, explains how to recognize coercive control and outlines how to heal once you are out of the relationship.
Essential Tools for Empaths: A Survival Guide for Sensitive People, Dr. Judith Orloff
A ‘hands-on’ book for helping empaths identify themselves and develop their exceptional gifts of perception, compassion, and creativity.
Newly released in March 2018 and a good fit for all three stages.
Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness, Rick Hanson, PhD. Practical, warm and encouraging, Resilient teaches you how to overcome the brain’s negativity bias, release painful thoughts and feelings, and replace them with self-compassion, self-worth, joy and inner peace.
Recommended for Stage 2 – Transformation
Meditations to Change Your Brain: Rewire Your Neural Pathways to Transform Your Life
Rick Hanson is one of my favorites, with a rare combination of knowledge, gentle presentation and compassion based on overcoming his own hurdles. This is a great audio CD set of meditations based on his research into our ability to transform our lives by rewiring our own brains. Perfect for your time in the chrysalis!
TRAUMA AND TRANSFORMATION: A 12-Step Guide.
This book uses the concepts of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous as a framework for healing from traumatic experiences, melding spirituality as a healing tool with those normally used to heal the body and mind. Inspirational and highly recommended! Also appropriate for Stage 3.
Character Disturbance: The Phenomenon of Our Age
This is a good book for learning about your former partner and what happened to you. It is also an alternative for men who do not want to read Women Who Love Psychopaths. Dr. Simon will answer many of your questions about who you were with, how you were affected and how to avoid further victimization.
If you are ready to begin looking at alternative career options or ways to generate a second income, the Barefoot Writer’s Club is an inexpensive way to explore various options for becoming a paid writer who can work from home…or anywhere else in the world!
Recommended for Stage 3 – Soaring
How To Spot a Dangerous Man Before You Get Involved
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It is best to avoid dating again right after ending a toxic relationship. By the time you reach the soaring stage, you will be ready to begin exploring a new relationship. However, many people leave one toxic relationship only to eventually find themselves in another that looks different on the surface yet has many similar characteristics that are damaging. You will minimize the possibility of this happening to you if you avoid dating right away, go slowly in the beginning of any new relationship and buy this book so you can recognize danger before you get too involved.
How To Spot a Dangerous Man Companion Workbook
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This is the companion workbook for How To Spot A Dangerous Man. They are designed to be read and used together.