"A Flexible Mind: Tools for Integrating Psychological Flexibility and the Enneagram into Your Personal Growth" by E. Marcelo Aguirre integrates the teachings of the Enneagram of Personality with tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The book proposes that psychological flexibility—comprised of six core skills (present-moment awareness, cognitive defusion, acceptance, self-as-context, values clarification, and committed action)—is essential for mental well-being. It explores how each of the nine Enneagram personality styles can apply these skills to overcome ego rigidity and live more authentically, in alignment with personal values. Ultimately, the text argues that personal growth is an ongoing journey of self-discovery and intentional action, where perseverance is key to transforming automatic patterns and building a purposeful life. (Get the ebook on Amazon stores).
[Summary] Karla McLaren's book, “The Art of Empathy,” offers a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing empathy. McLaren explores the multifaceted nature of empathy, distinguishing between affective and cognitive empathy and emphasizing its importance in navigating personal relationships and social interactions. The text provides practical strategies for developing emotional awareness, regulating emotions, and setting healthy boundaries, particularly relevant for highly empathetic individuals prone to burnout. It also addresses misconceptions surrounding empathy, such as gender and neurological differences, and promotes the inclusion of individuals on the autism spectrum. Finally, McLaren offers tools and exercises to enhance empathic skills, cultivate healthy relationships, and create supportive environments at home and in the workplace.
[Summary] Deb Dana's “Polyvagal Practices: Anchoring the Self in Safety” is a guide to understanding and utilizing Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory in daily life. The book uses the metaphor of an autonomic ladder—with ventral (safe), sympathetic (mobilized), and dorsal (collapsed) states—to explain how the nervous system responds to safety and danger. It offers various exercises, including mapping and continuum exercises, to increase awareness of one's autonomic state and build self-regulation skills. The ultimate goal is to strengthen connection to a ventral state of safety and foster healthier relationships with oneself and others. The text also emphasizes the importance of recognizing and responding to the autonomic nervous system's continuous communication.
[Summary] Jay Earley’s book, "Self-Therapy (Vol. 3): A Step-by-Step Guide to Using IFS for Eating
Issues, Procrastination, the Inner Critic,
Depression, Perfectionism, Anger,
Communication, and More” provides a step-by-step guide to applying Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy to common psychological issues like inner criticism, depression, perfectionism, and eating disorders. The text details IFS techniques, including unblending from parts (Inner Critic, Criticized Child, Inner Defender), healing exiles, and developing healthy capacities (Ease, Aliveness, Assertiveness). It uses case studies and exercises to illustrate how to identify and work with these parts and patterns. The author also explains the Pattern System, a model for understanding the relationships between different parts within a person. Finally, it highlights the importance of building a trusting relationship with all parts, including the challenging ones, to achieve lasting change.
[Summary] Jay Earley’s book, "Self-Therapy (Vol. 2): A Step-By-Step Guide to Advanced Ifs Techniques for Working With Protectors” is a guide to advanced Internal Family Systems (IFS) techniques. It focuses on working with ‘protectors,’ specifically ‘managers’ and ‘firefighters,’ which are parts of the self that shield us from emotional pain. The text details methods for identifying, understanding, and transforming these protectors through techniques like tracking parts, depolarization dialogues, and updating protectors about one's current capabilities. The author also introduces the ‘Pattern System,’ a personality framework used to understand internal conflicts. Finally, the excerpt includes numerous exercises and case studies to illustrate these advanced IFS concepts and techniques.
[Summary] This book provides an overview and workbook exercises for Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, a model that views the psyche as comprised of a ‘Self’ and various ‘parts.’ The workbook guides users to identify and understand these parts—Managers, Firefighters, and Exiles—through self-assessment, meditations, and exercises designed to foster self-compassion and healing. The author, Richard Schwartz, PhD, presents IFS as a method for achieving greater self-awareness, managing emotions, and improving relationships. The workbook is structured in five parts, progressively exploring different aspects of the IFS model and offering practical tools for personal growth. Finally, the included author and publisher information provides context for the work's origins and distribution.
[Summary] Richard Schwartz's book, Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model, introduces the foundations of IFS therapy. IFS posits that the mind is comprised of various ‘parts,’ including protective parts (managers and firefighters) and vulnerable parts (exiles). This therapy model aims to help individuals access their ‘Self,’ a core of inherent goodness and wisdom, to foster healthier internal relationships between these parts. The book details how these parts interact, explains how to identify them, and offers exercises to facilitate self-exploration and healing. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve self-leadership, improving both internal harmony and external relationships.
[Summary] In “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy,” Francine Shapiro presents its adaptive information processing (AIP) model, which posits that trauma is stored dysfunctionally in the brain and that EMDR helps reprocess this information. The book explains EMDR's phases, from assessment and preparation to desensitization, installation of positive cognitions, and body scans, and provides clinical examples and case studies. Finally, it discusses research supporting EMDR's efficacy for various conditions and offers guidelines for clinicians, including cautions on working with specific populations like children and those with dissociative disorders.
[Summary] In “Many Minds, One Self,” Richard Schwartz & Robert Falconer argue that the common belief in a singular mind is an illusion. The book proposes an alternative paradigm, Internal Family Systems (IFS), suggesting that the mind is naturally multiple, composed of sub-personalities or 'parts,' alongside an undamaged core Self. IFS draws evidence from diverse fields, including philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and complexity theory, to support its claims. The text explores the historical and cultural context of this perspective, examining how the concept of multiplicity has been viewed throughout history and in different therapeutic and spiritual traditions. Ultimately, the book advocates for a shift in understanding towards a more integrated, compassionate perspective that recognizes the inherent multiplicity of the mind and its potential for healing and positive social change.
[Summary] “The ACT Workbook for Anger” is a guide to managing anger through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The book examines how anger functions in different contexts, highlighting the importance of recognizing and accepting one's emotional experience. The authors, Robyn Walser and Manuela O’Connell, present strategies for defusing from angry thoughts and behaviors, and for developing compassion toward oneself and others. The book guides readers toward values clarification and committed action, encouraging them to live a meaningful life aligned with their core values rather than being driven by anger.
[Summary] This Daniel Siegel's book explores the concept of ‘mindsight,’ a crucial ability to understand one's own mind and the minds of others. Siegel argues that mindsight is essential for mental well-being and is cultivated through a process of integrating different aspects of the brain and mind, including consciousness, emotions, memory, and relationships. He emphasizes that this integration is achieved through various techniques such as mindfulness, self-reflection, and therapeutic interventions. The excerpts illustrate these concepts through real-life case studies, highlighting how mindsight can help individuals overcome challenges related to mental health, trauma, and interpersonal relationships.
[Summary] “The Archaeology of Mind” delves into the field of affective neuroscience, which studies how our emotions arise from ancient neural networks in the brain. The authors argue that emotions are not simply cognitive interpretations of our surroundings, but rather are fundamental, evolved systems with their own unique neural pathways. They explore seven primary emotional circuits: SEEKING, RAGE, FEAR, LUST, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF, and PLAY, analyzing their function in both humans and animals. They also discuss how these circuits are influenced by learning and experience, highlighting the importance of epigenetic factors and the potential for developing new therapies based on this understanding.
[Summary] “Transcending Trauma,” by psychiatrist Frank Anderson, explores the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of therapy, focusing on its application to healing trauma. Specifically, Anderson examines the impact of relational trauma and complex PTSD on individuals, highlighting how these experiences can manifest as various ‘parts’ within a person's inner system. He then delves into IFS techniques for addressing protective parts, understanding attachment styles, navigating shame cycles, and working with substance use and dissociation. Finally, Anderson outlines the steps of the unburdening process, emphasizing the importance of connecting with the Self as a corrective and healing experience. The book advocates for a compassionate, non-pathologizing approach to healing that acknowledges the biological and psychological aspects of trauma and emphasizes the power of self-awareness and connection for recovery.
[Summary] “Self-Therapy (Vol. 1): Creating Wholeness and Healing Your Inner Child Using IFS” by Jay Earley introduces and explains Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), a new way of understanding the human psyche and working with problematic emotions and desires. IFS views the psyche as comprised of ‘parts,’ like subpersonalities with their own unique feelings, motivations, and worldviews. These parts are categorized as either ‘exiles’ or ‘protectors.’ Exiles are parts that hold pain and trauma from the past, often stemming from childhood experiences. Protectors, on the other hand, work to shield the individual from experiencing the pain of these exiles. The book provides a step-by-step guide on how to do IFS sessions, which involve: 1) accessing and befriending protectors, 2) getting permission from protectors to work with exiles, 3) accessing and unblending from exiles' pain, 4) witnessing the childhood origins of exiles' burdens, 5) reparenting exiles, 6) unburdening exiles through a ritualistic release, and 7) transforming protectors' roles. Throughout, the book emphasizes the importance of connecting with the ‘Self,’ a core of wisdom, compassion, and strength, which guides the healing and integration of these parts. The goal of IFS is to achieve internal harmony and wholeness by healing exiles and transforming protectors so they can cooperate and support a fulfilling life.
[Summary] “The Power of Now,” by Eckhart Tolle explore the concept of spiritual enlightenment, arguing that true happiness and fulfillment lie not in the pursuit of external goals or the satisfaction of desires, but in the present moment. The texts emphasize the importance of disidentifying from the mind, which is seen as a source of suffering and illusion, and instead connecting with one’s deeper self or Being, which is a state of pure consciousness beyond thought and time. The texts encourage readers to cultivate presence and surrender, accepting the reality of the present moment without resistance, and embracing the impermanence of all things. Various portals into this state of enlightenment are described, including inner body awareness, dreamless sleep, and the contemplation of space. Relationships are presented as a spiritual practice, where the presence and surrender of both partners can lead to the dissolution of egoic patterns and the blossoming of true love.
[Summary] "Goddesses in Everywoman" by Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, a psychiatrist who explores the jungian concept of archetypes within the context of women's psychology, uses Greek goddesses as a framework to analyze common psychological patterns found in women, drawing connections between the mythological stories and the experiences of real women. The author argues that these archetypes represent powerful inner forces that can influence a woman's choices, relationships, and overall development. The book also explores the relationship between a woman's internal world and her external experiences, and how these factors can impact her sense of self and her place in the world.
[Summary] “Take Care of your Type,” by Christina S. Wilcox focuses on self-care strategies for individuals within each of the nine types of the Enneagram. The ebook includes detailed descriptions of the personality types, discusses the challenges each type faces, and recommends specific self-care practices designed to help individuals address their unique needs. The ebook also offers advice for individuals who are in relationships with people of different Enneagram types, highlighting strategies to better understand and support those individuals.
[Summary] Jean Shinoda Bolen's book, "Gods in Everyman," examines the impact of archetypes, specifically those of the Greek gods, on the psychology of men. Bolen, a Jungian psychiatrist, argues that these archetypes influence men's behavior and self-perception, particularly in the context of patriarchal society. She explores how men's relationships with their fathers, as well as societal expectations, shape their engagement with archetypes like Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Bolen also discusses the importance of recognizing and embracing these archetypes to achieve a more fulfilling life.
[Summary] “Finding Solid Ground: Overcoming Obstacles in Trauma Treatment,” by Bethany L. Brand, Hugo J. Schielke, Francesca Schiavone, and Ruth A. Lanius provides a framework for understanding trauma-related disorders (TRDs) and the impact of trauma on the brain and body. The excerpt focuses on dissociation, a common symptom of TRD, particularly in cases of complex trauma and neglect, which is linked to the development of dissociative self-states (DSS) and the difficulty in managing emotions. The authors outline a treatment approach for TRD patients, emphasizing the importance of establishing safety, managing dysregulation, and developing healthy coping mechanisms. They advocate for the use of grounding techniques to manage ungrounded states, which are triggered by a perceived threat, and encourage the development of emotional tolerance to decrease reliance on unhealthy behaviors. The excerpt includes a set of practical guidelines for therapists working with TRD patients, offering concrete strategies for managing dissociative symptoms, unsafe behaviors, and shame.
[Summary] The book "Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy,” by Pat Ogden and her colleagues presents a detailed framework for a therapeutic approach that emphasizes the body's central role in processing and healing trauma. The authors argue that traditional psychotherapy focused solely on verbal narratives is insufficient for addressing trauma, as it often leaves the underlying sensorimotor experiences unaddressed. Sensorimotor psychotherapy, in contrast, incorporates mindfulness, body awareness, and a variety of somatic exercises to help clients process and integrate traumatic memories through physical sensations, movements, and emotional responses. The book also explores the interconnectedness of the brain, body, and emotional regulation, emphasizing the importance of the autonomic nervous system, attachment theory, and action systems in understanding and treating trauma.
