Recommended Books on Mindfulness and Self-Care
published 3/12/17; updated 1/9/22
by Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org
I reached out on social media to find out which books educators and counselors have found most useful in their personal practice and in their work.
Many thanks to everyone who shared your favorites!
Books for Teachers/Educators
Discipline Over Punishment: Successes and Struggles with Restorative Justice in Schools by Trevor Gardner
Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices to Help Children, Teens, and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience by Christopher Willar
Happy Teachers Change the World by Thich Nhat Hanh and Katherine Wear
Introversion in the Classroom: How to Prevent Burnout and Encourage Success, by Jessica Honar
The Invisible Classroom: Relationships, Neuroscience and Mindfulness in School by Kirke Olson
Learning to Breathe: A Mindfulness Curriculum for Adolescents to Cultivate Emotion Regulation, Attention, and Performance by Patricia Broderick
Mindful Games: Sharing Mindfulness and Meditation with Children, Teens, and Families by Susan Kaiser Greenland
Mindful Learning by Craig Hassed and Richard Chambers
The Mindful School Leader: Practices to Transform Your Leadership and School by Valerie Brown and Kirsten Olson
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents) by Eline Snel
The Thundering Years: Rituals and Sacred Wisdom for Teens by Julie Tallard Johnson
Books for Counselors/Therapists
ACT Made Simple by Russ Harris
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change by Steven Hayes, Kirk Strosahl, and Kelly Wilson
Living Well with Pain and Illness by Vidyamala Burch
Mindfulness for Health: a Practical Guide for Relieving Pain, Reducing Stress, and Restoring Wellbeing by Danny Penman and Vidyamala Burch
Scared To Leave, Afraid To Stay: Paths From Family Violence To Safety and other books on domestic violence by Barry Goldstein
When Dad Hurts Mom: Helping Your Children Heal from Domestic Abuse, and other books on domestic violence by Lundy Bancroft
Self-Care and Personal Practice
The Introvert's Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World by Sophia Dembling
Just Sit: A Meditation Guidebook for People Who Know They Should But Don't by Sukey and Elizabeth Novogratz
Leaving It at the Office: A Guide to Psychotherapist Self-Care by John C. Norcross and James D. Guy
Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates
The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion by Christopher Germer
Mindful Tech: How to Bring Balance to Our Digital Lives by David M. Levy
Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace) by Chade Meng Tan
Also, these are some favorite authors of books about mindfulness and meditation:
More Recommended Books
At the Center for Adolescent Studies blog, my colleague Dr. Sam Himelstein and I share some of our favorite books: