Books: Befriending Compassion Fatigue Lesson Three

BOOKS

Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation

―Daniel Siegel, Random House, 2010

Mindsight BookThis groundbreaking book, from one of the global innovators in the integration of brain science with psychotherapy, offers an extraordinary guide to the practice of “mindsight,” the potent skill that is the basis for both emotional and social intelligence. From anxiety to depression and feelings of shame and inadequacy, from mood swings to addictions, OCD, and traumatic memories, most of us have a mental “trap” that causes recurring conflict in our lives and relationships. Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and co-director of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, shows us how to use mindsight to escape these traps. Through his synthesis of a broad range of scientific research with applications to everyday life, Dr. Siegel has developed novel approaches that have helped hundreds of patients free themselves from obstacles blocking their happiness. By cultivating mindsight, all of us can effect positive, lasting changes in our brains—and our lives. A book as inspiring as it is profound, Mindsight can help us master our emotions, heal our relationships, and reach our fullest potential.

The Body Bears the Burden: Trauma, Dissociation, and Disease 3rd Edition

– Robert Scaer, 2014

The Body Bears the Burden BookWhen The Body Bears the Burden made its debut in 2001, it changed the way people thought about trauma, PTSD, and the treatment of chronic stress disorders. Now in its third edition, this revered text offers a fully updated and revised analysis of the relationship between mind, body, and the processing of trauma. Here, clinicians will find detailed, thorough explorations of some of neurobiology’s fundamental tenets, the connections between mind, brain, and body, and the many and varied ways that symptoms of traumatic stress become visible to those who know to look for them.

Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition): Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness  

–Jon Kabat-Zinn, 2013

full catastrophe living bookStress. It can sap our energy, undermine  our health if we let it, even shorten our lives. It makes us more vulnerable to anxiety and depression, disconnection and disease. Based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s renowned mindfulness-based stress reduction program, this classic, groundbreaking work—which gave rise to a whole new field in medicine and psychology—shows you how to use medically proven mind-body approaches derived from meditation and yoga to counteract stress, establish greater balance of body and mind, and stimulate well-being and healing. By engaging in these mindfulness practices and integrating them into your life from moment to moment and from day to day, you can learn to manage chronic pain, promote optimal healing, reduce anxiety and feelings of panic, and improve the overall quality of your life, relationships, and social networks. This second edition features results from recent studies on the science of mindfulness, a new Introduction, up-to-date statistics, and an extensive updated reading list. Full Catastrophe Living is a book for the young and the old, the well and the ill, and anyone trying to live a healthier and saner life in our fast-paced world.

 

The Art of Empathy: A Complete Guide to Life’s Most Essential Skill

– Karla McLaren, 2013

the art of empathy bookWhat if there were a single skill that could directly and radically improve your relationships and your emotional life? Empathy, teaches Karla McLaren, is that skill. With The Art of Empathy, she teaches us how to perceive and feel the experiences of others with clarity and authenticity―to connect with them more deeply and effectively. Informed by current insights from neuroscience, social psychology, and healing traditions, this book explores:
-Why empathy is not a mystical phenomenon but a natural, innate ability that we can strengthen and develop
-How to identify and regulate our emotions and boundaries
-The process of shifting into the perspective of others
-How to provide support in a sensitive and healthy way
-Insights for navigating our hyper-connected social landscape
-Targeted chapters for improving family, workplace, and intimate relationships
-Ways to expand our empathy to our community, global levels of society, and the natural world
More than ever, reflects Karla McLaren, the time for empathy has come. The Art of Empathy brings welcome, practical guidance for mastering this essential life skill.