Panoramic Counseling Blog

Book Review: The Passing Playbook

The book recommending algorithm didn't disappoint when it brought The Passing Playbook, by Isaac Fitzsimons to my attention. Though this is a novel with a target audience of adolescents and young adults, I, reading from a therapist's perspective, was very impressed with how well the author does with covering a multitude of topics impacting gay, transgender, and nonbinary youth. With...[ read more ]

Book Review: No One Succeeds Alone

Since I'm always the one recommending books, I was surprised when one of my clients recommended a book to me. And what a great recommendation it was! Today, I'll be sharing some of the insights that I gained from No One Succeeds Alone: Learn Everything you can from Everyone you can, by Robert Reffkin. What's this book about? This book...[ read more ]

Book Review of “Boys & Sex” by Peggy Orenstein

Since I primarily work with teenagers and read a ton on adolescent development, I wasn't surprised when my library's e-book app recommended Boys & Sex: Young Men on Hookups, Love, Porn, Consent, and Navigating the New Masculinity, by Peggy Orenstein. Before we dive in, the information presented within comes from Orenstein's research of well over 100 male teens and young...[ read more ]

Memoirs of Mental Health: Chrissy Metz

Chrissy Metz is best known for her role as Kate Pearson on the hit TV show, This is Us. I just finished reading Chrissy Metz's book, This is Me, for the second time and I'm excited to share some of the insights that I gained from her story. Mental Health Themes This memoir covers a multitude of mental health themes...[ read more ]

Book Review: Man Enough- Undefining my Masculinity by Justin Baldoni

I read a lot of books and every so often, a truly fantastic one finds me and rocks my world. Man Enough: Undefining my Masculinity by Justin Baldoni is one of those books. What is this book about? Let's start with the author's rationale for writing the book: "I need this book to heal from those formative years where the...[ read more ]

Memoirs of Mental Health: Lecrae Moore

Earlier this week, I shared an excerpt from Lecrae Moore's memoir, I am Restored, on Instagram. In my caption, I shared my thoughts about being both a therapist and a Christian while not identifying myself as a "Christian therapist." I am looking forward to sharing insights that I gained from Lecrae's (stage name) book, as it goes beyond just evangelizing;...[ read more ]

Memoirs of Mental Health: Anna LeBaron

Recently, I’ve been becoming more interested of the topic of spiritual abuse, so I was intrigued when I found a memoir (my favorite genre) by Anna LeBaron titled The Polygamist’s Daughter. Trauma From hearing LeBaron’s story, I am in awe of how she made it through such complex and recurrent trauma. Her mother was the fourth wife of a polygamist “prophet”....[ read more ]

Memoirs of Mental Health: Columbus Short

Given this series, it's clear that memoirs are my favorite book genre. With that being said, Short Stories: The Autobiography of Columbus Short is one of the most dynamic memoirs that I've ever read. I know of Columbus Short from his role in ABC's Scandal; however, his career has spanned choreography, music, and film production. From reading his memoir, I...[ read more ]

The Face I Made… A Book Review

It has been a while since I’ve reviewed a book on this blog but this book was so moving that I couldn’t help but share.  The Face I Made When the Doctor Said I had Cancer... Again!!! is a memoir that was started by Jonathan "J.O." Newby and was later finished by his wife, Regina Newby after he passed away...[ read more ]

Cicely Tyson: Honoring the Life and Legacy of an Icon

I preordered Cicely Tyson’s memoir back in December, already knowing that her story would be one of the most profound I’ve ever heard. I was beaming Tuesday morning when Audible notified me that my preorder was available. All my other books went to the back burner and I began binge listening, taking breaks of course to do mundane things like...[ read more ]