With the mountains of self-help resources, mental health podcasts and wellness social accounts out there, it can be overwhelming. Are all of these valuable resources? Are some better than others?

We all know that few things beat a personal recommendation so, we’ve pulled together a selection of mental health and wellness resources below from our clinical team that may help you better understand yourself and/or your loved ones.

You can find recommendations for books, films, Instagram pages, podcasts and apps below, each with a short description of what to expect from them.

Written by Nadine Seif, BSc, Assistant Psychologist, Sloane Court Clinic

Books: 

• Dr Saarim Aslam recommends The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris. He describes it as “a gentle yet powerful guide to making peace with your thoughts and feelings, rather than fighting them.” He explains that “using the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, [this book] shows you simple, practical ways to live a richer and more meaningful life.

• Also recommended by Dr Aslam, The Compassionate Mind by Prof Paul Gilbert “helps you understand why we can be so hard on ourselves, and shows how learning self-compassion can ease shame, quiet the inner critic, and nurture emotional strength”.

• Mind Over Mood by Dr Dennis Greenberger and Dr Christine Padesky “gives you practical step-by-step ways to understand your thoughts and feelings using CBT to help you make changes that can lift your mood and build confidence in daily life”, explains Dr Aslam.

• Dr Veronica Ranieri recommends A Manual for Being Human by Dr Sophie Mort. A clear and relatable guide that explains how your early experiences shape your emotions and behaviours—and how to understand and manage them using psychological tools

• Toxic Parents by Susan Forward explores the lasting impact of difficult or emotionally abusive parenting. Ilse du Preez recommends this book, offering guidance on how to break free from destructive patterns to reclaim your self-worth.

• Another recommendation by Ms du Preez, Reinventing Your Life by Jeffrey Young introduces the concept of ‘lifetraps’—deeply rooted patterns from childhood (also called schemas) —and shows how to identify and change them using schema therapy techniques.

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt is recommended by Dr Rob Harland, and investigates the rise in youth anxiety and depression in the digital age, examining the role of smartphones and social media, and offering insight into how we can support healthier development.

• Recommended by Dr Anastastios Argyropoulos, The Eden Project: In Search of the Magical Other – A Jungian Perspective on Relationship by James Hollis is an insightful book exploring our deep, often unconscious longing for a perfect partner, termed the “Magical Other.” Drawing on Jungian psychology, Hollis unpacks how early childhood experiences shape our romantic expectations and why many relationships face struggle and disillusionment. Promoting deeper self-awareness in relationships and encouraging personal growth, this book aims to guide readers towards more authentic connections.

• Can Love Last? – The Fate of Romance Over Time by Stephen A. Mitchell is another recommendation from Dr Argyropoulos regarding relationships. This book explores of modern love, challenging the common belief that romance inevitably fades in long-term relationships. He examines how vulnerability and idealisation impact intimacy over time and offers both clinicians and individuals a compassionate lens on how love can evolve when nurtured with honesty and courage.

• Close to the Bone: Life-Threatening Illness as a Soul Journey by Jean Shinoda Bolen, recommended by Dr Dimitri Spiliotis, encompasses a therapist’s journey after losing her daughter. It highlights the psychological processes of grief and the importance of symbols and myths as guides. As he describes it, it is “an incredibly generous, revealing and moving book that covers the personal and collective processes of grief within psychotherapy, analysis and mythology.”

• Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong: A Guide to Life Liberated from Anxiety by Kelly G. Wilson and M. Troy DuFrene is an introduction to the ideas of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr Spiliotis believes it can help us view unpredictability and life challenges not as problems, but as opportunities for growth, and clarity of our personal values. He also reiterates that this book can be helpful to all and is not limited only to those experiencing clinical anxiety.

• Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl Jung is also recommended by Dr Spiliotis as the autobiography of one of the most influential psychotherapists in the west. This book features powerful insights into Jung’s process of developing his ideas about the impact of the unconscious, mythology, and religion in our lives. It is written more like a modern Odyssey than a theoretical, academic text. Showing the relevance of his work, Dr Spiliotis explains that “even for those who never heard of C G Jung, they will have encountered his ideas in everyday language, work, films or culture. For example, the ideas of archetypes; introversion/extroversion; shadow; persona; collective unconscious to name a few, were all developed by C G Jung.”

• Dr Sajdah Zaman recommends Skills-Based Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disorder: The Maudsley Method. She finds it to be a helpful book written by professionals with expertise in the field of eating disorders. It is particularly valuable in helping carers expand their knowledge and skills to better understand someone with an eating disorder.

• Another recommendation from Dr Zaman is Anorexia and other Eating Disorders: How to Help Your Child Eat Well and Be Well by Eva Musby. This book is written by a parent to help other parents who have a child with an eating disorder, using her own experience to help others navigate the challenging process through compassion and practical advice.

Film:

• Loveless (2017) is a Russian drama directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev. It follows the story of a divorcing couple locked in a bitter, resentful relationship. Their 12-year-old son is neglected and emotionally abandoned by both parents until one day, he goes missing. This triggers a slow and painful search that forces the adults to confront their own emptiness and emotional dysfunction. Dr Spiliotis recommends this as a powerful movie on family dynamics told through the eyes of a child.

Instagram:

Dr Ranieri also recommends some Instagram pages she finds to provide helpful insights or psychological tips:

• the.pocket.psychologist - Run by qualified psychologist, Millie Hardie, this account shares bite-sized, accessible insights into emotional wellbeing, mental health, and coping strategies, perfect for daily reflection or support.

• drsoph - Clinical psychologist and author, Dr Sophie Mort, offers engaging and down-to-earth content about managing anxiety, relationships, self-worth, and everyday mental health using science-backed tools.

• thepsychologistandme - Focused on making psychology relatable, this account explores mental health topics through a mix of personal insight and professional guidance, encouraging self-awareness and growth.

Podcasts: 

• Where Should We Begin by Esther Perel – recommended by Dr Ruth Ann Harpur. Psychotherapist Esther Perel invites listeners into real, unscripted couples therapy sessions, offering profound insights into relationships, communication, and emotional connection.

App:

• This guided meditation app, Deep Relaxation - Yoga Nidra, uses the ancient practice of Yoga Nidra to promote deep physical and mental relaxation. Ilse recommends this for stress relief, better sleep, emotional reset and to helps you enter a calm, restful state.

ADHD:

For suggested specific resources regarding ADHD, please click here.