Emily Bruce
MA, JD, AMFT
Resources for Coping with Anxiety
The Happiness Trap, by Russ Harris (bookshop.org)
An engaging and accessible book explaining how you can incorporate skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into your own life.
The Self-Compassion Institute with Dr. Kristin Neff
Dr. Neff, a psychologist, has been instrumental in publicizing the benefits of cultivating self-compassion as a way to diminish anxiety and live with a greater sense of agency and ease. You can access more information about her work, as well as free guided meditations, on this website.
Freedom from Panic, by Bonnie Zucker, Ph.D. (bookshop.org)
If you've ever dealt with panic attacks, you know they can be terrifying and debilitating. This book explains the causes of panic attacks, and suggests specific steps you can take to stop them from taking over your life.
Resources for Healing from Complex Trauma
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem (bookshop.org)
Explores how racism impacts nervous system regulation across generations, and provides exercises and practices to identify and soothe the effects of racism inside the body.
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, by Lindsey C. Gibson, Ph.D. (bookshop.org)
Being raised by parents who were emotionally neglectful or abusive leaves many people struggling to trust their own judgment or form healthy relationships with others. This classic book can help you understand how parenting may affect your patterns of thinking and acting as an adult. Understanding why you respond the way you do can be an important first step towards changing unhealthy and unproductive patterns in your own life.