My favorite books for Christians determined to be more mentally healthy

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a licensed therapist who has been in the mental health field for over 15 years. I believe that God wants his followers to be mentally healthy! We are better witnesses to Him when we think and act in ways that reflect biblical principles. This is why I am a big fan of books that help me think and act more wisely and that also helps me follow God more deeply. Working through our mental ‘stuff’ and following God well are greatly intertwined. Whether in person or by recommending books, I love to be a part of that process with people.


I wrote...

Changing Your Feelings: A Workbook for Anxiety and Worry from a Christian Perspective

By Healey E. Ikerd,

Book cover of Changing Your Feelings: A Workbook for Anxiety and Worry from a Christian Perspective

What is my book about?

My desire to help people follow God and not be hindered by fears and negative thinking led me to create this workbook. It is designed for those who want to learn to manage anxiety and worry and who want some practical ways to do that. The step-by-step information and questions are exactly what I do in sessions every day with my clients. The techniques are derived from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and biblical principles. 

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Making Peace with Your Past

Healey E. Ikerd Why did I love this book?

This is one of my most highly recommended books for those struggling with baggage from the past, such as rejection, resentment, and perfectionism. 

Wright takes readers through a process of going back to work through past baggage, forgive past hurts, and then change future responses. For Christians committed to moving (and living) beyond their past, this book can help them do just that. Wright is a leading expert in grief, loss, and trauma and has a number of other invaluable books.

By H. Norman Wright,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Making Peace with Your Past as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Much of who we are, what we do, and how we feel is determined by our past. Whether they're relationships from our childhood or pressures from recent years, the events of the past can have a significant impact on our current behavior.

A continual bestseller now re-launched with a new look for new readers, this insightful and perceptive book shows readers how to face and move beyond the negative events and feelings of their past. Writing from a compassionate, Christian perspective, H. Norman Wright helps readers understand who they are, who is responsible for their character, and how they can…


Book cover of Healing Is a Choice: 10 Decisions That Will Transform Your Life and 10 Lies That Can Prevent You From Making Them

Healey E. Ikerd Why did I love this book?

I love books that challenge our way of thinking and this book does that.  

Though God wants his people to be healed, sometimes that healing doesn’t come immediately. It is something to be chosen and then walked through. Arterburn helps Christians see that God wants to help us heal, but specific choices must be made. 

Ultimately, understanding that concept helps and deepens our relationship with God. He uses his own story of divorce and anger as he outlines ten critical choices that readers need to make. This is a journey of healing that will challenge you and encourage you.

By Stephen Arterburn,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Healing Is a Choice as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?

The power to heal-physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually-is in God's hands. But the choice to be healed is yours. Everyone, at some level, needs healing. You may have prayed for healing many times, for many years. Perhaps you have lived with your brokenness so long that you have become accustomed to it. Maybe you wonder just when God is going to take all the hurt away.

He can. But you also must choose to let the hurt go and let the healing begin.

In this special edition of Healing Is a Choice, author Stephen Arterburn…


Book cover of Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life

Healey E. Ikerd Why did I love this book?

I have read this book so many times. It is a classic! For those of us who have struggled with saying yes to everything, I was so thankful that I found this book. 

A heart of compassion and care can set you up for burnout, resentment, and going in directions that God doesn’t want you to go. The authors are brilliant, and they help Christians learn that it is okay to say No and that is actually good for us and others. Saying No when appropriate is a sign of good mental health.

By Henry Cloud, John Townsend,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Boundaries as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Join the millions who have learned how to take control of their lives by setting healthy boundaries with their spouses, children, friends, parents, coworkers, and even themselves, in order to live life to the fullest.

Do you feel like your life has spiraled out of control? Have you focused so much on being loving and unselfish that you've forgotten your own limits? Do you find yourself taking responsibility for other people's feelings and problems? In Boundaries, Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend teach you the ins and outs of setting the boundaries that will transform your daily life.

Boundaries, a…


Book cover of Courage to Connect: A Journey Toward Intimacy in Relationships

Healey E. Ikerd Why did I love this book?

Our world is filled with people who crave intimacy but don’t know what it means and don’t know how to do it. 

We build up walls trying to protect ourselves but ultimately, we are miserable because we want the closeness of another. Spoiler Alert – Intimacy isn’t sex! Hurst helps us see that intimacy is about knowing our real, authentic self and being willing to share that with others. Though first, we must know where our identity comes from. 

Good mental health requires us to know who we are and be willing to share that authentic self with God and others. Healthy people can do that freely.

By Rich Hurst,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Courage to Connect as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book is not for the faint hearted! If you choose to embark upon this journey toward intimacy you will find yourself moving from a passive victim to an active participant in life. You will discover intimacy is a journey, not a destination.

Everyone wants intimacy, but time and disappointing relationships have dulled its meaning. This book is about:

• Discovering intimacy is a journey, not a destination
• Understanding expectations and creating the life you want
• Principles that matter in building an intimate lifestyle
• Overcoming myths that destroy relationships

Courage to Connect will help you to open…


Book cover of Windows of the Soul: A Look at Dreams and Their Meanings

Healey E. Ikerd Why did I love this book?

Though this book may not seem to fit this specific ‘mental health’ category, it definitely does! 

These two Christian men come together to write a profoundly impactful, faith-inspired book. They help readers understand how God works through dreams and how to recognize how God uses certain dreams to help us heal in both our past and present. 

I have used these concepts to help clients identify possible meanings in their dreams to get a situation resolved. Dream meanings are not a ‘one size fits all’. It depends on what is going on in a person’s life. If dream resolution and self-improvement is a goal, this is the book for you. 

By Paul Meier, Robert Wise,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Windows of the Soul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Have you ever dreamed about.losing something valuable or irreplaceable? Missing an important engagement? Being chased by a nameless, faceless entity? Talking to a deceased loved one? Doing something immoral or totally out of character? Your dreams are probably trying to tell you something.and it may not be what you think. Dr. Paul Meier, and Dr. Robert Wise help you find the clues needed to decipher and discern the hidden meanings of these nightly visitors. Dr. Meier's psychiatric expertise, combined with Dr. Wise's twenty-eight years of ministry experience, offered a unique overview of dream process and the unconscious. Windows of the…


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Book cover of The Complete Eldercare Planner: Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help

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What is my book about?

Trusted for more than three decades by family caregivers and professionals alike, this comprehensive and reassuring caregiving guide offers the crucial information you need to look after your elders and plan for the future.

Being a caregiver for aging parents, close friends and family, and other elders in your life is an overwhelming experience, whether you are one who has stepped into this role without warning or one who is also contemplating their own care plan. Now in its fourth edition, The Complete Eldercare Planner will help you navigate today’s complex caregiving landscape while addressing your unique needs.

By Joy Loverde,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Complete Eldercare Planner as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Trusted for more than three decades by family caregivers and professionals alike, this comprehensive and reassuring caregiving guide offers the crucial information you need to look after your elders and plan for the future.

“The most complete resource between two covers.”—Woman’s Day
 
Being a caregiver for aging parents, close friends and family, and other elders in your life is an overwhelming experience, whether you are one who has stepped into this role without warning or one who is also contemplating their own care plan. Now in its fourth edition, The Complete Eldercare Planner will help you navigate today’s complex caregiving…


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