The Books We Recommend
At Bell Family Therapy, we believe that becoming the best version of ourselves is a lifelong journey—and that journey is made stronger with the right tools in hand. That’s why we’ve curated a list of recommended reads to support individuals, couples, and families in navigating conflict, deepening connection, and growing through life’s hardest seasons.
These books are not a substitute for therapy or professional guidance, but they are powerful companions that can build upon the work you're already doing—whether through mediation, counseling, or personal reflection. From parenting and co-parenting to communication and healing after betrayal, each title was selected with care to reflect the evolving needs of families across Dallas Fort Worth and all of Texas.
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Set Boundaries, Find Peace is a must-read for anyone struggling to speak up for themselves in relationships. Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab offers clear, actionable advice for recognizing when your boundaries are being crossed—and how to communicate your limits with confidence and compassion.
This book is especially helpful for individuals and couples working to break unhealthy patterns, reduce resentment, and build more balanced, respectful connections. We recommend it often to those learning how to protect their peace while staying engaged in their relationships.
- Sileta Bell
I Hear You by Michael Sorensen
I love to recommend I Hear You to couples who are working to stay together because it offers powerful insight into one of the most transformative skills in any relationship: validation.
Michael Sorensen breaks down how simply acknowledging and affirming your partner’s feelings can build trust, reduce conflict, and create emotional safety. This quick, practical read offers real-life examples and easy-to-use tools that help couples feel heard, seen, and more connected.
- Sileta Bell
Fight Right by Julie Schwartz Gottman & John Gottman
Fight Right is a science-backed guide for couples who want to turn conflict into connection rather than disconnection. Drs. Julie and John Gottman—leading relationship researchers—teach couples how to argue with intention, fairness, and respect.
Rooted in decades of research, this book shows that conflict doesn’t have to break a relationship; in fact, when handled well, it can deepen intimacy. We often recommend Fight Right to couples who are learning how to repair after ruptures or communicate more effectively under stress.
This is for sure one of my go to recommendations for couples looking to restore their marriages.
- Sileta Bell.
Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson
Hold Me Tight is a groundbreaking book that transforms the way couples understand love and conflict. Developed by the founder of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dr. Sue Johnson introduces seven key conversations that help partners recognize and repair disconnection, strengthen emotional bonds, and build lasting intimacy.
This book is ideal for couples seeking deeper connection, especially in the face of recurring conflict or emotional distance.
Trained as an Emotionally Focused Therapist, I often recommend Hold Me Tight to clients who want to move beyond the surface issues and reconnect at the level of emotional safety and secure attachment.
- Sileta Bell.