Clients often ask me: “What are some good books I can read or listen to on Audible to help me heal?” Over the years, I’ve gathered a list of powerful resources that support healing from betrayal, emotional pain, spiritual growth, and relationships. 

Starter Path: 6 Essential Reads

If you’re not sure where to begin, here’s a balanced starter path that touches on healing, energy, masculinity, women’s empowerment, spirituality, and relationships:

1. Patrick Carnes – The Betrayal Bond: Breaking Free of Exploitive Relationships

   • A must‑read for understanding betrayal trauma and toxic attachments. Carnes offers exercises to help readers break free and reclaim their lives.

2. Joe Dispenza – Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself

   • A powerful blend of neuroscience and meditation, teaching how to rewire your brain and create lasting change.

3. David Deida – The Way of the Superior Man

   • A guide for men (and women who love them) on living with integrity, purpose, and authentic masculinity.

4. Dr. Shefali – A Radical Awakening

   • Encourages women to shed societal expectations and step into their authentic power, offering a roadmap for transformation.

5. Viktor Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning

   • A timeless classic on finding meaning even in suffering, offering profound insights into resilience and purpose.

6. John Gottman – The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

   • Research‑based strategies for building and sustaining healthy, lasting relationships.

Healing from Betrayal & Emotional Wounds

• Patrick Carnes – The Betrayal Bond

• Claudia Black – Unspoken Legacy

• Melody Beattie – Codependent No More

• Nicole LaPera – How to Do the Work

• Sven Erlandson – There’s a Hole in My Love Cup

• Lindsay C. Gibson – Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

• Pete Walker – Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving

• Peter Levine – Waking the Tiger

• Shahida Arabi – Healing the Adult Children of Narcissists

• John Bradshaw – Homecoming

• John Bradshaw – Healing the Shame That Binds Us

• Cheryl Richardson – The Art of Extreme Self‑Care

• Brené Brown – I Thought It Was Just Me

• Dan Neuharth – If You Had Controlling Parents

• Louise Hay – The Power Is Within You

• Melissa Urban – The Book of Boundaries

• Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey – What Happened to You?

• Martha Beck – The Way of Integrity

 Energy Healing & Transformation

• Joe Dispenza – Blessing of the Energy Centers

• Joe Dispenza – Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself

• Joe Dispenza – Becoming Supernatural

• Caroline Myss – Why People Don’t Heal and How They Can

• Don Miguel Ruiz – The Four Agreements

 Spiritual Growth & Inner Trust

• Pema Chödrön – When Things Fall Apart

• Michael Singer – The Untethered Soul

• Elizabeth Lesser – Broken Open

• Iyanla Vanzant – Trust

• Martha Beck – Finding Your Way in a Wild New World

• Richard Rohr – Falling Upward

• Anne Lamott – Almost Everything

• Elizabeth Gilbert – Big Magic

• Viktor Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning

• Marianne Williamson – A Return to Love

• Caroline Myss – Sacred Contracts

• Wayne Dyer – Being in Balance

 Relationships & Connection

• John Gottman – The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

• Harville Hendrix – Getting the Love You Want

• Don Miguel Ruiz – The Mastery of Love

• David Knox – The Seven Secrets of Healthy Relationships

 Healthy Masculinity

• Robert Bly – Iron John

• Lewis Howes – The Mask of Masculinity

• David Deida – The Way of the Superior Man

• Mark Greene – The Little #MeToo Book for Men

 Women’s Empowerment

• Dr. Shefali – A Radical Awakening

• Clarissa Pinkola Estés – Women Who Run With the Wolves

• Kate Northrup – Do Less

• Sarah Ban Breathnach – Simple Abundance

• Sue Monk Kidd – The Dance of the Dissident Daughter

 Closing Thoughts

Healing and growth are lifelong journeys, and the right book can be a trusted companion along the way. Whether you’re working through betrayal, exploring energy practices, deepening your spirituality, or strengthening your relationships, these authors offer wisdom you can return to again and again.

📌 Save this list for later, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, or pick one book today to begin your journey. Sometimes the smallest step—like opening a book—can spark the biggest transformation.