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Career

Sacred Contracts
by Caroline Myss
    If you want to realize your full potential and begin a fulfilling career, this book will
    help you ask yourself some deep questions about what really makes you happy.

What Color Is Your Parachute?
by Richard Bolles
    The major strength of this book is that it provides a systematic road map that
    leads you from confusion to finding a job that is well-matched your talents and
    passions as well as the needs of the market place.

Chronic Pain

The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain
by John E. Sarno
    Sarno's thesis is that most back pain and various other physical problems are
    really manifestations of repressed emotions.  If you are suffering from long-term
    pain and have explored medical answers with no results, I suggest reading this
    book.

Healing Back Pain: The Mindbody Connection
by John E. Sarno
    Same as the book mentioned above, yet focused on back pain.

Codependency

Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for
Yourself
by Melody Beattie
    This is an excellent book on codependency. It gives a good understanding of
    what codependency is what causes it and what can be done to treat it. The
    author strikes a balance between sound psychology and practical descriptions
    that make sense.

Facing Love Addiction: Giving Yourself the Power to Change the Way You Love
By Pia Mellody
    A love addict is defined as someone who is dependent on, enmeshed with,
    and compulsively focused on taking care of another person.  If you tend to lose
    your center or groundedness in a relationship this book can offer some much
    needed help.

Dating

If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love
by Charlotte Kasl
    This brilliant little guide offers practical strategies on how to address dating in a
    positive, loving, and non-defensive manner, and how to not compromise
    ourselves by trying too hard to manipulate, impress or change who we are just
    to attract the person we want.  You do not need to be Buddhist to love this book.

Death & Dying

On Death and Dying
By Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
    Death is the one topic that most of us do not want to talk about.  Elisabeth
    Kubler-Ross breaks down the stages of death to enlighten us and help us to
    understand this difficult part of life.

Divorce

Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends
by Bruce Fisher
    This is an excellent source for those of you who are experiencing divorce or the
    loss of a relationship. This book offers many truths and insights into the
    mysterious and painful process of divorce.

Personal Freedom

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
by Suzuki Roshi
    The wisdom in this book can help you to understand the nature of your mind
    and to develop some practices that can bring more joy and freedom into your
    life.   

The Power of Now
by Ekart Tolle
    The average American spends the majority of time worrying about the future or
    reviewing the past.  All we really have is this present moment.  The power of
    now can be a catalyst to get back into the here and now, more alive and fulfilled.

Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior
by Chogyam Trungpa
    Trungpa shows that in discovering the basic goodness of human life, the true
    warrior learns to radiate that goodness into the world for the peace and sanity
    of others. This book describes the warrior’s path for contemporary men and
    women in search of practical wisdom that they can put to use in their everyday
    lives.

No Boundary: Eastern and Western Approaches to Personal Growth
by Ken Wilber
    This book explores the nature of the self and is a great introduction to non-
    dualism.  Anyone on the path of self-discovery will find this book enlightening.

The Four Agreements
by Don Miguel Ruiz
    The Four Agreements are very simple, but very profound:
  • Be Impeccable With Your Words
  • Don't Take Anything Personally
  • Don't Make Assumptions
  • Always Do Your Best

Tao Te Ching
by Lao Tze
    Written by Lao Tsu in the sixth century BC, this is a simple, quiet book that
    reflects upon our true nature.  The wisdom in this book is written as a poem.
    Every other sentence is a memorable quote, and one can read it in an hour and
    study it for a lifetime.

Relationships

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
by John Gottman
    Topics: increasing admiration of each other, working together instead of
    against each other, problem solving, and creating a sense of shared meaning.
    Learn more at www.gottman.com

How to Survive the Loss of a Loved One
by Harold H. Bloomfield
    This book provides support for anyone who is experiencing grief related to a
    loss, including the death of a loved one or the breakup of a relationship.

Struggle for Intimacy
by Janet Geringer Woititz
    You can learn to:
  • Identify family myths that make you wonder whether having a healthy, intimate
    relationship is possible.
  • Know the questions to ask in order to find out whether you and your partner
    have a long-term future together.
  • Be aware of misunderstandings that can sabotage your relationship.
  • Express your feelings and fears so as to avoid misunderstandings.
  • Find out what to do when your relationship is not working.
  • Create good relationships.

Tell Me No Lies
by Ellyn Bader, Ph.D. & Pete Pearson Ph.D.
    This book is a useful tool in learning how to talk to each other in an honest,
    open dialogue. The authors are nationally recognized experts in the field. Learn
    more at www.couplesinstitute.com

Sex and Relationships
Passionate Marriage: Love, Sex, and Intimacy in Emotionally Committed
Relationships
by David Schnarch
    This book explores how couples can become more passionate and erotic by
    working to become more “differentiated.” Many couples find this book helpful in
    understanding and practicing key principles for sustaining marriage as
    separate individuals.

The Illustrated Manual of Sex Therapy (second edition)
by Helen Singer Kaplan.
    This wonderful manual is full of illustrative techniques used in counseling for
    various sexual problems. This book offers full-page illustrations and
    explanations of how these techniques can increase your sexual satisfaction
    with your partner.
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with Sevin Philips MFT
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