Sara Willott, PhD, LCSW
East-West Psychologist
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Couples, Friendships, and Relationships:

• The Gottman Institute (https://www.gottman.com/) takes a research-based approach to relationships. They have excellent books, videos, other resources, which you can order from the website. The website also offers information about workshops for couples and a directory of therapists who are trained in their methods.

• Fair Play is a book and card deck by Eve Rodsky, which outlines a system for how to divide up household tasks fairly. There's also a documentary about it, and you can read about it at https://www.fairplaylife.com/.

• Terry Real, founder of Relational Life Therapy and a couples therapist I admire very much, wrote a book published in 2022 called Us: Getting Past You & Me to Build a More Loving Relationship. You can read about his book and his approach, as well as access his resources, at his website, https://terryreal.com/.

• The High-Conflict Couple: A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide to Finding Peace, Intimacy & Validation, by Alan E. Fruzzetti, Ph.D. (New Harbinger Publications, 2006). https://www.newharbinger.com/9781572244504/the-high-conflict-couple/

• Psychologist Marisa G. Franco, Ph.D., has written a book called Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--And Keep--Friends. Here's the book's website: https://drmarisagfranco.com/platonic-the-book/

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Open-relationships/Ethical non-monogamy/Polyamory

 

• The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton & Janet Hardy: A classic. Covers communication, jealousy, boundaries, and radical self-honesty.

•  Opening Up by Tristan Taormino: Focuses on a variety of open relationship styles

• Polysecure by Jessica Fern: Blends attachment theory with consensual non-monogamy

•  Love’s Not Color Blind by Kevin A. Patterson: Focuses on race, privilege, and inclusion in polyamorous spaces

• "Factors that Facilitate and Hinder the Experience of Compersion Among Individuals in Consensually Non‑Monogamous Relationships" A scholarly article that may evoke areas for self-reflection

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Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Social Skills, Perfectionism, OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder):

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• This website, published by the American Psychological Association, offers tools and strategies for helping children and teens manage their stress and anxiety: https://www.apa.org/topics/child-development/stress

• "A Review of Self‑Compassion as an Active Ingredient in the Prevention and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Young People" A scholarly article that makes the case for depression

• This website is loaded with useful information about adult anxiety with a lot of self-directed resources: https://www.anxietycoach.com/.

• https://www.anxieties.com/ is a free public service of distinguished psychologist Reid Wilson, Ph.D., who is director of the Anxiety Disorders Treatment Center in Chapel Hill, NC. The website includes all sorts of free or low cost resources

• When Perfect isn't Good Enough by Antony & Swinson: Practical and insightful information for perfectionistic thinking and behaviors

• The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety: a well-written book utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy philosophy that comes with a generous array of goodies (e.g., downloadable worksheets; audio recordings of guided exercises)

• The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook, by Martin M. Antony & Richard P. Swinson

• This website (https://www.succeedsocially.com/) has been helpful for people who feel anxious in social situations or feel that their social skills are weak.

• The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD (https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684035632/the-mindfulness-workbook-for-ocd/) Hershfield gives practice guidance that can be done outside of therapy: Focusing on the thought/emotion, but not acting on it.

 

Bipolar Disorder​

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• The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings (2nd Edition), by Monica Ramirez Basco, https://www.guilford.com/books/The-Bipolar-Workbook/Monica-Ramirez-Basco/9781462520237.

• Living Well with Bipolar Disorder: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Daily Life, by David J. Miklowitz, Ph.D. filled with tools and tips https://www.guilford.com/books/Living-Well-with-Bipolar-Disorder/David-Miklowitz/9781462553532

• The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know (3rd Edition), by David J. Miklowitz, https://www.guilford.com/books/The-Bipolar-Disorder-Survival-Guide/David-Miklowitz/9781462534982.

• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance has numerous groups- they have many online offerings as well: https://www.dbsalliance.org/support/.

ADHD, Autism, Neurodivergence​

• Understand Your Brain, Get More Done: The ADHD Executive Functions Workbook, by Ari Tuckman. Dr. Tuckman also has a website called "More Attention, Less Deficit" at https://adultadhdbook.com/ and a podcast at https://adultadhdbook.com/more-attention-podcast/.

• "Resilience in the face of neurodivergence: A scoping review of resilience and factors promoting positive outcomes" A scholarly article that as the authors state is, "A scoping review embedded in a neurodiversity-affirmative approach to provide an understanding of resilience in neurodivergent populations."

• ADDitude magazine and website is a treasure trove of information for both adults and children; see https://www.additudemag.com/.

• Jessica McCabe's "How to ADHD" website (https://howtoadhd.com/). Many users appreciate the relatable and non-judgmental feel.  Evidence-based approaches offered in a friendly/entertaining manner.

• Train Your Brain for Success: A Teenager's Guide to Executive Functions, by Randy Kulman

• Scattered, by Gabor Mate, M.D.: Provides a non-mainstream view on ADHD that some people have found helpful.

• https://neurodivergentinsights.com/ is a website run by Dr. Megan Anna Neff (neurodivergent psychologist). Helpful articles, infographics, and community

• ​"Experiences of neurodivergent students in graduate STEM programs" A scholarly article that uses qualitative method to identify certain shared experiences had by students.  They identified three overlapping themes: Internalization of Neurotypical Norms, Self-silencing to Make it Through Graduate School, and Neurodivergent Burnout Due to Overwork and Masking.

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Websites with Gender Affirming Resources

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• Trans Lifeline (https://translifeline.org/) They provide trans peer support for trans community.  They are run by and for trans people." US (877) 565-8860.

• https://www.genderspectrum.org/ Online community for young people, family members, and professionals, and several support groups.

• Trans-Cendence International has virtual support groups online for anyone under the transgender umbrella as well as significant others, family, friends, and allies.

• Trans Health Project (https://transhealthproject.org/). Learn about how health insurance works and how to get the trans health care coverage to which you are entitled.

• The New York Speech and Voice Lab, a speech-language pathology practice in NYC,  https://www.speechvoicelab.com/, about transgender voice and voice training.

• Resource on vocal practice called "Finding Your Voice: A Short Guide to Vocalization". Contact them at http://callen-lorde.org.

• UCSF hormone therapy education here: https://transcare.ucsf.edu/hormone-therapy.

• TransHealthCare is a free website that helps transgender individuals find surgeons who offer transgender surgery procedures: http://www.transhealthcare.org/

• Gender Infinity has a resource database to help you find trans-affirmative locations near you. https://resource.genderinfinity.org/

•  “TransPulse” is a support and resource site for those on the transgender spectrum and their friends, family members, and allies. http://transgenderpulse.com

• The World Professional Association for Transgender Health: http://www.wpath.org/

• Original Plumbing: Pioneering magazine started in 2009 for transmasculine culture.  the legacy of Original Plumbing continues to inspire and inform discussions around transmasculine identity and representation http://www.originalplumbing.bigcartel.com/ 

• Brave Space, LLC, has a comprehensive planning guide for clients pursuing gender affirming surgeries, a families in transition flyer, and additional downloadable resources at  http://www.bravespacellc.com/resources

• Trans Law Center: Transgender Law Center. Transgender Law Center is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. https://transgenderlawcenter.org/

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Gender Affirming Books:

 

• Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community, by Laura Erickson-Schroth

• Yes you are Trans Enough, by Mia Violet

• Families in Transition: Parenting Gender Diverse Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults, edited by Arlene Lev and Andrew Gottlieb (https://cup.columbia.edu/book/families-in-transition/9781939594297)

• My New Gender Workbook: Kate Bornstein

• God Doesn’t Make Mistakes: Laurie Suzanne Scott (a book written by a transwoman who grew up in evangelical church and maintained her faith)