I frequently suggest "The Wild Edge of Sorrow" by Francis Weller to clients dealing with grief. This book treats grief not as an issue to resolve but as an essential human experience that, when given the right space, can lead to deeper connections.
For women in midlife, I often suggest "Women Who Run With the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. I recently revisited it in my 40s and found it resonates much deeper than when I first read it in my early 30s.
This book speaks directly to reclaiming your authentic nature after years of putting everyone else first. Using myths and folktales, Estés illuminates how we've muffled our instinctual wisdom to fit external expectations—and shows us the path back to ourselves.
One of the most profound aspects of Internal Family Systems therapy is the moment when clients begin to truly see and understand their parts. This process—what IFS calls insight work—often creates transformative shifts that ripple through a person's entire system.