What To Read

Dr. Jennifer Mullan aka "The Rage Doctor" is a groundbreaking author, teacher, speaker, community builder, and mental health advocate interested in the decolonization of therapy and mental health. We asked her for some book recommendations in her field, and she shared this collection of books that have helped her to help thousands of others on their journey to healing.

"So many of us have not had access to research, thought ideation, philosophy and poetry that inspires us to move beyond cycles of generational teachings that we have always known," said Mullan. "I want to share a few books that helped me: undo and unlearn; recenter the healing and helping; honor our big emotions, get to trauma tending; relearn our ancestral inheritance; engage in active physical and emotional decolonizing."

Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice by Jennifer Mullan, Psy.D

Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence--From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror by Judith Lewis Herman, M.D.

"This is a staple in fully understanding psychological trauma, as Herman states 'as an affliction of the powerless.' From the combat neurosis of the sex war, to the syndrome of chronic trauma, to how recovery from trauma unfolds in stages, Herman highlights how trauma impacts every aspect of functioning, from the psychological to biological, and the necessity of holistic and comprehensive treatment that evolves at each stage of recovery."

Revolution in Psychology: Alienation to Emancipation by Ian Parker

"This book was gifted to me by a dear compa/kasama/comrade and it rocked my world- while reminding me of the world I was fighting to create...This book reminds us that psychology has become part of the problem--that it has stolen from spiritual approaches for hundreds of years and created a constellation of practices and people that divide people from each other...Bring us back to collective processing of power Ian!"

We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health--Stories and Research Challenging the Biomedical Model by L.D. Green and Kelechi Ubozoh

"Listennnnnn, this book was gifted to me by Shana from North Atlantic Books. It was a gift that kept giving. Each essay, story, and example of mutual aid FED ME, ok? FED ME. I wondered why more people weren't talking about the beauty and radical storytelling in this book... Although a newer one on my list—this book clearly speaks to the need to abolish and evolve the MHIC and its siblings..."

Healing Rage: Women Making Inner Peace Possible by Ruth King, M.A. "This is a book I want to leave this earth with...This book is a beautiful place to land when you are holding so much pain, sorrow, shame, frustration and even rage. In this book, you can self-assess your own Rage Disguises (Hint: there are SIX and they are not all aggressive!) and you have permission to understand the birthing of your personal rage child- and the impact trauma and shame have on us..."

You can purchase Dr. Jennifer Mullan's Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice on Tertulia or see the full recommended reading list on her website.