Ashley Thomson
The music of Adrienne Lenker and Big Thief is a big source of comfort and inspiration.
Catherine Sullivan
Iâ??ve been dipping in and out of Oliver Burkmanâ??s 4,000 Weeks and Meditations for Mortals. I love his balance of dry humour and deep research, and his challenge to step into a more meaningful,...
Cathy Lee
Iâ??m often inspired by the poetry of Jeff Foster. A favourite of mine is his poem Let a Feeling Crack You Open from his book You Were Never Broken. His words speak to the possibility of meeting our...
Lisa Barrett
Off the top of my head, the book 'Return to Love' by Marianne Williamson is the one I can always remember the name of !
I also think the 'School of Life' regularly has some great episodes- relevant,...
Carolyn Choy
A poem that inspires me is Desiderata by Max Erhmann [https://cchoy.com.au/desiderata/] and the poem Wild Geese by Mary Oliver [https://cchoy.com.au/wild-geese/]
Amelia Ducker
Films - I love the film work of Wim Wendes (Wings of Desire, Perfect Days, Paris Texas).
Books- Memories, Dreams, Reflections (Jung), The Way of the Dream (Marie Louise Von Franz)
Corina Johns
Musically, I am a fan of John Darnielle (of the Mountain Goats) and Mark Oliver Everett, among others. They share an appreciation for all kinds of human experience that I find inspiring.
I enjoy...
Megan E Shea
I often return to the haiku of Kobayashi Issa. His poetry captures the fragility, humour, and beauty of everyday life with just a few wordsâ??reminding me to slow down and stay present.
Eleni Kidis
Anything to do with the teachings and practices of non-dual Tantrik yoga and philosophy. This spiritual traditions is life affirming and teaches us how to navigate human embodiement, how to work with...
Sam Thomson
All time favourite movie - About Time. An incredible message about love, loss, being present, grief & loss.. in my opinion, it perfectly captures all of those feelings in a light-heartened and...
David Nightingale
Apart from the Bible, the works of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Josef Pieper and Joseph Ratzinger. I'm inspired by the life of St Francis of Assisi, St Theresa of Calcutta and St Charles de Foucauld.
Weiyu Guan
Book: The Plague - Albert Camus
Film: Harold and Maude
Song: The lost words blessing
Artwork: Water Lilies #1 - Ai Weiwei
Events: clown school with Fabio Motta, guitar/mandolin ensemble with Ben...
Robyn Bowman
Growing Yourself Up by Jenny Brown
The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris.
Inside Out (Movie)
Mariyon Slany
Dr Helen Fisher's work on love is fascinating. Also Dr Steven Porges 'Our Polyvagal World - how safety and trauma change us' has been eye-opening. Art and literature are constant inspirations in my...
Ann Edvall
Scattered minds, When the body says no and The myths of normal by Gabor Mate.
Vanessa Wylie
It has to be a song as music is definitely my healer. These songs are always on repeat when I need a lift: Groove Is in the Heart by Deee-Lite, Emotional Rescue by the Rolling Stones, and Dance Hall...
Jacquie Flecknoe-Brown
Everything by C.G. Jung. Also The Matter with Things, Iain McGilchrist. Marie-Louise Von Franz, Barbara Hannah, M. Esther Harding, Edward Edinger, Robert A. Johnson, Vine Deloria Jnr, Iain...
Luke Edwards
One of my most favourite books is called The Awakened Heart: Opening Yourself to the Love You Need by Rollo May.
Film - Dead Poets Society, Manchester by the Sea
Song - God Only Knows, The Beach...
Helen Basili
Some books I have recently enjoyed are Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko, The White Girl by Tony Birch, Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Patsy by Nicole...
Laura Simpson
One book that continually inspires me is *The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse* by Charlie Mackesy. Its simple yet profound messages about kindness, resilience, and the importance of connection...
Sirini Kularatne-Samarapathi
Ajahn Brahmavanso's book of opening the door to your heart'. It contains little stories with opportunities for deep reflections presented in a unique way inviting readers to look at life in a simple...
Rima Alkadamani
One book that has deeply inspired me is â??The Prophetâ? by Khalil Gibran. Its poetic reflections on love, joy, sorrow, and the human experience beautifully capture the complexities of life and...
Sebastian Kinne
I draw inspiration from many sources. Irvin Yalomâ??s The Gift of Therapy reminds me of the depth and simplicity of the therapeutic encounter. Films like The Matrix speak to the possibility of waking...
Reed Everingham
This question is challenging as life is full of wonder and inspired moments. Reflecting on the human condition, one of my all-time favourite films is Little Miss Sunshine (2006). It touches on so...
Priscilla Schwartzman
Van Gogh is my favourite artist. Itâ??s hard to choose just one piece, because his entire body of work moves me each time I see it. His paintings have a way of expressing feeling beyond words,...
Mark De Calmer
Many, two that come to the forefront are 1: The Bible and the teaching of Christ and 2. Viktor E. Frankl's book, Man's Search For Meaning.
Reza Nejad
The most inspirational Movies are A beautiful mind and Schindler's List
The most inspirational books Beloved and White Teeth
Vassilka Dimitrova
This is a difficult question as there have been plenty of books, films, and other works of art that have influenced me and have inspired me over the years.
Some examples are the works of Akira...
Travis Grogan
I really liked the movie Perfect Days by Wim Wenders. It says to me there is beauty in the world no matter what, provided we learn how to see it.
Jeannene Eastaway
I love this question and there is never one thing that inspires me but to answer the question I need to say the movie 'About Time'.
Gary Bunker
The book â??The happiest man aliveâ? is an inspiration to me. The difference between being happy and being miserable isnâ??t what happens to us; Eddie Jaku lived through horrendous events, had...
Debby Heath
Any book, film, song or work of art that moves me emotionally inspires me to be kinder, more compassionate and more courageous.
Jacs Powell
Start Today by Gorilla Biscuits.
Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple.
Santeria by Sublime.
We See you by Gang Called Speed.
Mary A McIntyre
The poem Love After Love by Derek Walcott
the book The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Megan McGrath
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Itâ??s simple, profound, and a beautiful reminder of the power of kindness, courage, and connection.
Stephanie de Niese
It's a quote that inspires me:
But anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light.
- Eph 5: 13-14
Adriana Cope
I'm a Frida Kahlo fan! Frida's ability to express emotional pain and resilience through her raw, vivid art inspires me. Kahloâ??s life and art remind me of the power of turning suffering into...
Morag Paterson
So many!
On becoming a person - Carl Rogers
Mans Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
Irvin Yalom's books
The Happiness Trap- Russ Harris
'This is Me' Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman...
Gabriele (Gabe) Marranci
Carl Jungâ??s The Red Book has deeply influenced my view of the psych, its symbolic language, its complexity, and the importance of inner dialogue.
It taught me that healing is not just about...
Dee Kumbukage
One work of art that deeply inspires me is the book The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh. This profound and transformative book beautifully encapsulates the essence of Buddhist teachings...
Ron Dowd
James Hillman's The Dream and The Underworld had a big impact on me, and continues to inspire me that we are so much more than we might think we are.
The existentialist classic The...
Dee Hardy
Rasputin! The new re mix by MAJESTIC & BONEY M... upbeat, happy and just 'go' to for me!
I love all art as it is an expression of the person so I really am curious when I see art.
Ongoing self...
Regina Gerlach
One work that continues to inspire me is the poem â??How I Became a Warriorâ? by Jeff Foster. It speaks to the quiet, everyday bravery of turning toward our pain with gentleness, and choosing...
Sarah Lawson
There are many.
My Brother and I were hypnotized by a movie called Escape to Witch Mountain as children. I loved the wonder of outer space and special powers being used for good.
I love Under a...
Gregory Poll
â??Manâ??s Search for Meaningâ? by Viktor E. Frankl
The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Dead Poets Society
The Pursuit of Happyness
Good...
Carolyn Zantis
Sooo many inspirations.
I gravitate to books and films that celebrate the individual's courage to stand for justice and humane values, even at the risk of social or personal ostracism. Where...
Nathan Dick
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
I see myself primarily/first as a parent. I have three children, but I feel the responsibility of parenting extends beyond my immediate family.
The relationship in...
Ash Rehn
A great resource for gay and bisexual men is Out of the Shadows: Reimagining Gay Mens Lives which was published by Walt Odets in 2019. I would encourage any man who is struggling with aspects of gay...
Leigh Fraser-Gray
Its ever changing. I do however prefer to live in a world where we express ourselves through the arts. I encourage all my people to bring what inspires them into the therapy experience to explore...
Debra Sumner
Iâ??m a big fan of Brené Brown and her insightful books on vulnerability, courage, and connection. Outside of work-related reading, one of the most inspiring books Iâ??ve recently enjoyed is The...
Darius Leo
Atticus Finch - a fictional small-town lawyer played by Gregory Peck in the film To Kill a Mocking Bird'. It's also a great book. Atticus is a life-long hero of mine. He embodies what it means to be...
Brenda Rowlandson
There are so many! I'm inspired 'in the moment'. I would rather experience a moment of inspiration, or awe, than hold one or two things that I consider the inspiration. There is much in the world to...
Alexandra Page
A Man's Search for Meaning - Victor Frankl
The Gift of Therapy - Irvin Yalom
Ruth Edwards
I am an avid reader. The first books that inspired me were Wuthering Heights and The Odessa File. The latter inspired my fascination and love of history, and the lessons we need to learn.
Gabrielle New
I have just finished the 2024 Booker prize-winning novel 'Orbital' by Samantha Harvey. It is beautifully poetic, with a simple premise and wonderful insights into what it is to be human.
Last week,...
Rachel Tyson
Victor Frankl's Mans Search for Meaning is a profoundly wise book that I pick up and read every few years.
I love the Danish film Babette's Feast for its sensitive exploration of love, grace,...
Patrick Oâ??Brien
Song: Blackbird by the Beatles
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing...
Philip Hilder
Yes, 'The Sibling Society' and other books by the American author and poet Robert Bly
Steve Bonanno
This has nothing to do with therapy, but gosh, I love it... skydiving followed by surfing.
Just sublime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2zKARkpDW4
Ernst Meyer
In recent time (September 2024), the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been a very powerful source of confirmation for my clinical work. It has the potential to change the way...
Monica Eriksson
I'm inspired by any of Martha Beck's worksâ??her writing beautifully blends personal growth, intuition, and resilience, reminding me of the transformative power of embracing our true selves. And, of...
Cameron Trenowden
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one of my favourite movies because it explores a lot of mental health and philosophy.
Alda Curtis
Iâ??m inspired by Brené Brownâ??s The Power of Vulnerability. Her work beautifully highlights the courage it takes to be open and authentic, and how real growth comes from embracing our...
Jonathan Tandos
There are many but what immediately comes to mind is Paulo Coehlo's book The Alchemist which inspires and deeply comforts me, and that I've often turned to in troubled times.
The version of the...
Cecilia Calnan
As a bible believing Christian, the bible still manages to amaze me every day.
Max Rutherford
I have been influenced by so many people and experiences that it's hard to come up with particular examples without skewing the impression they might leave.
Clara Luxford
Currently reading The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Dideon, about her journey of grief after losing her husband John Dunne. Beautifully observed and very readable too.
I have just finished the...
Karen Potter
There are so many but I love 'Women who run with the wolves'
Elizabeth Fairbanks
Song: 'It Is Not Meant To Be'; Tame Impala.
Book: 'The Courage to be Disliked'; Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi
Film: 'Marie Antoinette'; directed by Sofia Coppola.
Record: 'Mother'; Cleo Sol....
Karen Druce
Regardless of the medium, I'm attracted to anything quirky, off-beat, hilarious, thought provoking, emotionally salient. To pick just one, the French comedy Amelie, with Audrey Tautou, is a...
Joshua Comyn
I can share several!
Book: Being and Event by Alain Badiou.
Film: Once Upon a Time in Anatolia by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
Songs: 'Hoist that Rag' by Tom Waits, 'Sun In My Mouth' by Bjork.
Event: the...
Tania Djipalo
I adore the movie The Age of Adeline for the wonderful meaning about change that it offers.
Victor Frankl Mans Search for Meaning A very small and unimposing book about the power imagining a...
Michele Watson
Jungian Analyst, Robert Johnson's books - He, She and We have been very influential in understanding feminine and masculine psychology.
Ajay Hawkes
Too many to mention, films from art like Kubrick , Fellini and Coppola's work to more pop culture films with some depth like the Wachowskis Matrix. ( I had another lifetime as a film student and...
Sudhir Dean
'The Body Keeps the Score' Bessel van der Kolk, 'Waking the Tiger' Peter Levine, 'In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Encounters with Addiction' Gabor Mate, 'The Heroic Client' Duncan, Miller, Sparks.
Trudy Clutterbok
Book: Things I Don't Want to Know, Deborah Levy
Film: The Taste of Cherry, Abbas Kiarostami
Song: My Island Home, the Warumpi Band
Art: The Rock Garden, Nek Chand, Chandigarh
Nicky Angelone
I have a couple of small sculptures my children made in early high school years that inspire me when I see them. They remind me of how much I love them, and how special it is to be their mum. And they...
Geoff Heard
The Spell of the Sensuous'; Perception and Language in a More Than Human World' by David Abram.
George Turnure
Coming Through Slaughter (Michael Ondaatje), Paris Texas (Wim Wenders), Descent into the Maelstrom (Radio Birdman), William Kentridge
Tessa Ipp
Ron Kurtz's book Graceful Unfolding, and Ram Dass's book, Be Love Now.
Leah Wilson
One work that inspires me deeply is the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. This book has had a profound impact on how I understand and approach both life and therapy. Tolleâ??s speech about...
Karen Rose
Good Inside, by Dr Becky Kennedy. A must-read, and pretty much sums up my approach when working with children and parents. Kids are good :)
David Anthony
Too many to nameâ?¦ I mostly get moved by music, art, and books - not so much by movies. Music serves a thousand roles - from Phoenix or Chaka Khan making me dance, to choral music that brings me to...
Martina Palombi
The books:
Family Evaluation, an approach based on Bowen theory, by M. Kerr and M. Bowen
Family therapy in clinical practice, by M. Bowen
Growing yourself up, how to bring your best to all...
Amy Shah
One book that has deeply inspired me in the field of mental health is The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk. The work explores the complex...
Philipa Thornton
So many. Recently it has been Lost Connections by Johann Hari. I loved he wrote about his personal journey with depression and what he thought was the leading cause. It is a well written book, with...
Stefan Durlach
There are too many to name! Some that come to mind are:
Movies: The Truman Show, Revolutionary Road. Amazing Grace,
Authors: Hermann Hesse, Llewellyn Vaughan Lee, Ken Wilber
Music: Adele singing...
Marie Mooney
Music- anything by Bruce Springsteen and lots of other music as well!
Nature photography
The sound of birds and the wind in the trees
Books - To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee), Broken Open...
David Indermaur
One of the best books I have read recently is called ââ?¬Å?Stepping out of self deception by Rodney Smith.
My favourite song is ââ?¬Å?It's a wonderful worldââ?¬Â which can work...
Meg Bonnell
I'm a huge reader and love incorporating popular culture references into therapeutic discussions. I've been known to reference Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Batman, Parks and Rec, Mean Girls, The...
Rina Taub
The Language of Flowers
The Streetsweeper
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Diary Anne Frank
Teresa Wilkinson
John O'Donohue's book called Internal Echoes: Exploring our Hunger to Belong.
Michelle Morris
There are many books, films and songs that inspire me. I also find Nature profoundly inspiring. I recently saw the film and read the book Tracks, this is a section I found particularly moving:
I...
Nicole Kinnaird
Loads and loads! Most things inspire me to be honest because they come from the creative part of us and I am interested in that in almost every form. I love wandering in galleries, bookstores, going...
Amanda Dounis
There is a song I remember from when I was young if theres one thing in my life that's missing, its the time that I spend alone. I would love the words and the story to it. Yet today I see how...
Zoe Hedges
Aah so many how do I choose?
Movie: RED,
Book: Birth without cruelty.
Event: referendum to end aparatheid.
Work of Art: Maggie Laubscher's ââ?¬Å?Ducksââ?¬Â
Rebecca Anderson
One of my favourite books in psychology is 'The Dance of Anger' by Harriet Lerner.
Karen Anderson
The things which have inspired me and continue to do so are many and varied:
• Victor Frankl's book, ââ?¬Å?Man's Search for Meaningââ?¬Â given to me by my father
• My...
Jennifer Fox
Too many to name, however, certain Buddhist chants and visualisations truly inspire me and keep me buoyant and grateful.
Moira Joyce
Breaking the Waves-film
Siting on the Dock of the Bay-music
Deb Gavan
I love reading, films, art and theatre. I am studying (law) at the moment; so my head is often in text books right now, but reading novels is an accessible joy.
Jean Gamble
Neville Symington - the Making of a Psychotherapist
Julie Henderson - How to feel as Good as Possible despite Everything
Serge Benhayon - The Way it Is
Tina Kopa & Catherine Wood Sounds of Soul
Erin Galt
That's a hard one to answer as there are so many, though I'm currently reading 'Surrender' by Bono from U2 which has me hooked. Bono writes about his own personal journeys through his relationships...
Howard Colin-Thome
Seinfeld, bad humour and anything entertaining is regenerative.
All stories of people coming through adversity are insipiring.
Kerstin Buccoliero
The Faithful Gardener - Audio book by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Mia Kennedy
I enjoy Christmas. The smell of cinnamon; decorating the house; Christmas lights are all traditions filled with nostalgia for me. I also like the fact that December is a time where joy seems to be...
Sonia Scussel
Books
Mindsight and Parenting from the inside out by Daniel J. Siegel
Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
The Gift of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Brian Whiter
A song called Nature Boy comes to mind. It was composed by Nat King Cole and the lyrics go like this...
There was a boy
A very STRANGE ENCHANTED boy.
They say he wandered very far, very far, over...
Michelle McClintock
Songs
Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake - this song is full of joy and happy vibes
Movies
Matrix - we are all waking up from a dream where we have no power and realising we are powerful...
Kim Bailey
Book - Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston MD, Irvin Yalom's Love's Executioner, To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Film - Manchester By The Sea (Recent), The Green Mile, Finding...


