Below is a list of links and resources I’ve complied over the last 10 years from organizations, books, and videos to influencers. They’re organized below by group. Enjoy! Please contact me if you’ve enjoyed the list and want to work with me!
Art Therapy
American Art Therapy Association– This is the basic page, but the videos in action are great and separated by issue.
Art Therapy Credentialing Board– If you’re curious about the process and qualifications needed to become an art therapist.
Art Therapy Blog– a good source of articles written by art therapists.
National Institute of Health article about how art therapy helps with mental disorders.
Art Therapy Research– Google Scholar search results as a place to begin.
Book List:
- The Handbook of Art Therapy by Cathy Malchodi
- Finding Your Voice Through Creativity by Jacobson-Levy and Foy-Tornay
Autism in AFAB People
Aspien Women– Tania Marshall is a pioneer researcher in ASD in women calling it Neurodiversity Academy. With her research, she has compiled a list of symptoms that are common in women with ASD. She uses women/girls and she/her pronouns throughout, but most of research stands true with AFAB people as well, because so much of gender has a social component. This link will take you directly to the list near the middle of the page, while the previous link takes you to the home-page. I recommend going through the list and highlighting which sounds like you.
Embrace Autism– A great resource for Autism information! Along with research, it has links to highly rated tests designed to look for Autism symptoms. If you’re questioning if ASD is the diagnosis for you, I HIGHLY recommend taking the RAADS-R and the CAT-Q.
YouTube
- https://youtu.be/8ZZ5FSfFVog
- This video is a great example of what walking down the road feels like for someone who is neurotypical and for someone who is neurodivergent. Please watch with headphones!
- https://youtu.be/2fYg5hSgtug
- Another short example of what it feels like to have ADHD/ be Neurodivergent.
Helpful Products to consider:
- Sensory Swing. You can find them all over amazon ad through therapeutic websites but they are expensive and mostly made for children. I recommend a yoga hammock/silk which is the same thing and usually weighted for 1,000 pounds and less expensive. I love swinging and I have one! It’s great for antigravity yoga as well.
- Weighted Blankets are a great resource for calming overwhelm and overstimulation. Ideally, you need a blanket that is 10% of your body weight. It does vary by person though with how much weight you are comfortable with. Easy to find, but not necessarily cheap. I do find them a lot in clearance sections of HomeGoods and Target, plus there’s a ton on Amazon.
- Weighted Stuffed Animals are a great cuddle and comfort object. They also weigh a few pounds for pressure on your body. I love Moon Pals! Again, they can also be found on Amazon.
- Ark Therapeutic makes toys for chewers and people with a bit of an oral fixation. If this is you then its a fantastic resource.
Body Image
YouTube Channels:
- Style Like U
- Carly Stong
- Jessamyn Stanley
Book List:
- The Body is not an apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
- Things No One Tells Fat Girls by Jes Baker
- The Art of Body Acceptance by Ashlee Bennett
- The Body Positive Journal by Virgie Tovar
- The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf
- What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon. Her podcast Maintenance Phase is also great.
- Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings
- Love your body by Louise Hay. All of her books and affirmation cards are great too.
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. Legit almost anything by Brene is fantastic including her videos.
- Dietland by Sarai Walker
- Beautiful You by Rosie Molinary
Brainspotting
Book List:
- Brainspotting by the founder David Grand
- Wired For Wealth by Brad Klontz and Rick Kahler
Sketch video of an interview with a UK-based BSP therapist explaining what it is.
Eating Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health information on eating disorders
National Eating Disorder Association
TV Shows:
- My Mad Fat Diary
- For the love of God do not watch To the Bone! It is so triggering.
Book List:
- Life without ED by Jenni Schaefer
- Eating in the Light of the Moon by Anita Johnston
- Hunger by Roxane Gay
- When your Teen has an Eating Disorder by Lauren Muhlheim
- Not all Black Girls Know How to Eat by Stephanie Covington Armstrong
- Goodbye ED, Hello Me by Jenni Schaefer
- Healing your Hungry Heart by Joanna Poppink
- The Eating Disorder Sourcebook by Carolyn Costin
Health at Every Size & Intuitive Eating
Association of Size Diversity and Health
The Original Intuitive Eating Pros
Book List:
- Health at Every Size by Lindo Bacon
- Body Trust by Lindo Bacon
- Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison. I also highly recommend her podcast FoodPsych!
- Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
- Body Kindness by Rebecca Scritchfield
- When Food is Love by Geneen Roth
- Eat What You Love Love What You Eat {with diabetes, with binge eating, etc.}
Mood Disorders and Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness
988 is the national Suicide hotline and they can get you mental health resources near you!
Book List:
- How to do the Work book and Workbook by Nicole LePera for anybody struggling
- The Courage to Heal Workbook by Laura Davis for people with sexual trauma
- Daring Greatly and Rising Strong by Brene Brown
- The Highly Sensitive Person and The Undervalued Self by Elaine Aron if you feel a lot and have self worth issues.
- Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson
- Attached by Amir Levine for people whith insecure attachment/trauma wanting to find and keep love in their lives.
- Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski-The science that will transform your sex life
- A Woman’s Way Through the 12-steps by Stephanie Covington
- Burnout- The Secret to Unlocking Your Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate- dealing with addiction
- Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- Me and My White Supremacy by Layla Saad
Tarot
Truly Teach me Tarot is my absolute favorite site for tarot card meanings. It is filled with great information and very detailed.
Biddy Tarot is another popular one that is short and sweet.
Book List:
- Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack