Books have a quiet way of making us feel less alone. Some titles below are ones we return to, recommend in our programs, and share with the people we work with. They span intergenerational trauma, somatic healing, anti-oppressive frameworks, self-compassion and the lived experience of diaspora and BIPOC communities:

• What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
  A journalist's deeply personal account of living with complex PTSD, weaving together her own story with research into the science and treatment of trauma. Honest, rigorous, and written from the inside out.

• My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
  A powerful somatic look at how racial trauma is held in the body across generations, and what it means to heal not just individually, but collectively.

• Break the Cycle by Dr. Mariel Buqué
  A clinically grounded, culturally informed guide to understanding intergenerational trauma and building the tools to heal it for yourself and those who come after you.

• The Wake Up by Michelle MiJung Kim
  A practical, intersectionally grounded guide to moving from awareness to action on race and systemic oppression. Accessible, direct, and built for those ready to do the work.

• Decolonizing the Body by Kelsey Blackwell
  Written by a woman of colour for women of colour, this book offers somatic practices to help readers recognise and release the embodied impacts of systemic oppression — and reconnect with their own inherent worth and wisdom.

• The Joy of Saying No by Natalie Lue
  A warm, honest look at people-pleasing, boundaries, and what it really means to start showing up for yourself.

• Welcome Home by Dr. Bee Lim
  A beautifully illustrated, clinically informed journey through the inner landscape of trauma and diasporic identity. This book is a tender invitation to meet the parts of yourself you may have hidden just to survive and to find your way back to wholeness.

Shapes and Sounds justshapesandsounds.com

Shapes and Sounds is a social enterprise dedicated to destigmatising mental health for Asian communities in Australia. Their directory connects you with Asian psychologists, counsellors, and social workers committed to supporting Asian community mental health and wellbeing so you can feel seen, heard, and supported without having to translate your experience first. They also offer a podcast and a range of free community resources.

Victorian Inclusive Practitioners vicinclusivepractitioners.com

A volunteer-run directory of therapists and health practitioners across Victoria who have expertise, training, and/or lived experience working with diverse and marginalised communities including immigrants, people of colour, LGBTQIA+ communities, and First Nations peoples. The searchable list lets you filter by location, profession, and the communities a practitioner works with, making it easier to find someone who truly understands your context.