Essential Counselling Books Worth Reading 

Expanding your knowledge is a key part of counselling skill development. Reading the best books on counselling provides great insights into therapeutic approaches, self-improvement strategies, client experiences and the field as a whole. Here are some top counselling books worth exploring:

On Becoming a Person by Carl Rogers, the founder of client-centred therapy, is one of the most influential counselling books ever written. Rogers explains the core conditions of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard that allow clients to find their own path to growth and change. This book shaped the modern understanding of the therapist-client relationship.

The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom offers practical wisdom for improving your practice based on decades of experience. Yalom guides setting boundaries, handling difficult emotions, harnessing the power of here-and-now presence and more. This is an invaluable tool kit for counsellors at all levels.  

Attached by Levine and Heller examine attachment theory and how early childhood experiences shape emotional bonds. Understanding attachment styles can help counsellors gain insight into clients’ relationships and provide more effective support. This is an eye-opening relationship book.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk is an empowering book on trauma therapy. Van der Kolk explains how trauma physically impacts the brain and body while sharing innovative treatment approaches that integrate mind and body healing. A must-read for trauma-informed care.

Tears of the Silenced by Misty Griffin recounts the author’s harrowing child abuse experiences, her subsequent emotional struggles, and her ultimate recovery. This courageous memoir sheds light on the survivor’s journey and the power of speaking the truth. Deeply moving and insightful.

Whether you are looking for foundational theories, practical techniques, relatable case studies or outside perspectives, quality counselling books in English offer something valuable. Use literature to keep enhancing your listening presence, therapeutic skills and self-awareness as a counsellor. The insights from these pages can help transform lives.