Resources

Navigating the system can be quite daunting. Thank you for trying anyway. In case you want more information, I have tried to create a resource page for you. Here you can find names of workbooks that are often recommended by therapists, recreational reads on mental health and mental wellbeing, private services, publicly-funded services, crisis services and services for specific populations.

Please note that I will not receive any compensation for recommendations made in reference to various services on this website. I will also not be able to guarantee the availability of the services, or whether the services will be a good fit for you. This is solely done with the intention to provide you with more information on mental health services. If this is an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital. You should also consult with your doctor or other mental health professionals for advice or information about diagnosis and treatment.

Distress/Crisis Lines

  • Distress Centre of Toronto: 416 408-4357 (HELP)
  • Distress Centre of Durham Region: 1 800 452-0688
  • Distress Centre of York Region: 310-2673 (COPE) do not dial (905)
  • Distress Centre of Peel Region: 905 278-7208
  • Gerstein Crisis Centre: 416 929-5200
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bi Youth Hotline: 416 962-9688 or 1 800 268-9688
  • Toronto Rape Crisis Centre: 416 597-8808
  • Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 1 866 863-0511
  • Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care (Women’s College Hospital): 416 323-6040
  • Spectra Community Support: 416 920-0497  (Mandarin and Cantonese)
  • Telecare Brampton: 905 459-7777 (Hindi, Urdu, Punjab, Spanish, Portuguese)
  • Peel Crisis Capacity Network: 905 273-4900

Guided Meditations and Contemplative Practices

Workbooks

Anxiety, Panic and Phobia:

  • The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne
  • The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution David A. Clark, Aaron T. Beck
  • The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Workbook: A Comprehensive CBT Guide for Coping with Uncertainty, Worry, and Fear by Melisa Robichaud and Michel J. Dugas
  • The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety: A Guide to Breaking Free from Anxiety, Phobias, and Worry Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by John P. Forsyth, Georg H. Eifert
  • The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven, Step-by-Step Techniques for Overcoming Your Fear by Martin M. Antony, Richard P. Swinson

Depression:

  • Mind Over Mood, Second Edition: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by Dennis Greenberger, Christine A. Padesky
  • The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Move Through Depression and Create a Life Worth Living by Kirk D. Strosahl, Patricia J. Robinson PhD

DBT workbooks:

  • The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anger: Using DBT Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation Skills to Manage Anger by Alexander L Chapman, Kim L Gratz
  • The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anxiety: Breaking Free from Worry, Panic, PTSD, and Other Anxiety Symptoms by Alexander L Chapman, Kim L Gratz, Matthew T Tull
  • The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder: Using Dbt to Regain Control of Your Emotions and Your Life by Sheri Van Dijk
  • The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for PTSD: Practical Exercises for Overcoming Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by Kirby Reutter
  • The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance by Matthew McKay, Jeffrey C. Wood, Jeffrey Brantley

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:

  • Getting Over OCD, Second Edition: A 10-Step Workbook for Taking Back Your Life by Jonathan S. Abramowitz
  • The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Bruce M. Hyman, Cherlene Pedrick

PTSD and complex trauma:

  • Life After Trauma, Second Edition: A Workbook for Healing by Dena Rosenbloom, Mary Beth Williams
  • Overcoming Trauma and PTSD: A Workbook Integrating Skills from ACT, DBT, and CBT by Sheela Raja
  • The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole by Arielle Schwartz
  • The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms by Mary Beth Williams, Soili Poijula

Books on Self Compassion, Metta, and Mindfulness

  • 50 Mindful Steps to Self-Esteem: Everyday Practices for Cultivating Self-Acceptance and Self-Compassion by Janetti Marotta
  • Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn
  • Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive by Kristin Neff
  • Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition): Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn
  • How to Be Nice to Yourself: The Everyday Guide to Self-Compassion by Laura Silberstein-Tirch
  • Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
  • Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food by Jan Chozen Bays
  • Mindfulness for Beginners: A Simple Concise & Complete Guide to Mindfulness Meditation by Jeffrey Holloway
  • Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment – and Your Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Distinctive Features by Rebecca Crane
  • Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach
  • Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program by Sharon Salzberg
  • Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
  • Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chödrön
  • Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration by Meera Lee Patel
  • The Compassionate Mind Workbook: A step-by-step guide to developing your compassionate self by Dr. Chris Irons and Elaine Beaumont
  • The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions by Christopher K. Germer
  • The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer
  • The Mindful Way Workbook: An 8-Week Program to Free Yourself from Depression and Emotional Distress by John D. Teasdale, Mark Williams, Zindel V. Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn
  • The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh
  • The Self-Compassion Skills Workbook: A 14-Day Plan to Transform Your Relationship with Yourself by Tim Desmond
  • The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World by Haemin Sunim
  • The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer