If You're Curious to Learn More: Books, Music & Resources

People often ask where they can learn more about breathwork, the nervous system and the ideas that have shaped my work. These are some of the books, teachers and resources I return to time and again. They're not about finding the "right" answer or following one philosophy. They're simply people whose work has helped me better understand myself, the people I work with and what it means to feel more connected.

David Elliott

If you're interested in understanding the style of breathwork I practise, I'd recommend starting with David Elliott's books, The Reluctant Healer and Healing. David was my breathwork teacher, and his philosophy has had a lasting influence on the way I work.

One of the things I value most is his belief that, beneath everything else, the journey always comes back to self-love. That idea has stayed with me ever since I first trained with him. Everything I've learnt since has added depth and understanding, but that foundation remains at the heart of how I hold space today.

Transcendental Meditation

Alongside breathwork, I've found Transcendental Meditation (TM) to be a wonderful practice. It offers a different way of settling the mind and allowing the body to access deep rest, and I know many people who describe it as life-changing.

What I appreciate most is that it isn't about trying to force your mind to be quiet or "getting meditation right". Like breathwork, it's a practice that invites you to return to yourself, again and again, with less effort than you might expect.

If you're curious about developing a simple, sustainable meditation practice, it's well worth exploring.

Richard Schwartz

If you've ever found yourself saying, "Part of me wants to do this, but another part is terrified," you'll probably find Richard Schwartz's work fascinating. His book No Bad Parts introduces Internal Family Systems (IFS), an approach built on the idea that we all have different parts of ourselves trying to protect us in different ways.

What I love most about this perspective is that it invites curiosity instead of judgement. Rather than trying to get rid of the parts of ourselves we don't like, it encourages us to understand them with compassion. That feels deeply aligned with the way I approach breathwork and counselling. So often, the parts we struggle with are simply trying, in their own way, to keep us safe.

Stephen Porges & Deb Dana

Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory transformed the way many of us understand the nervous system, safety and connection. While the science can feel complex at first, Deb Dana has done an extraordinary job of making those ideas accessible, practical and deeply compassionate.

I'm also a great believer in the Safe and Sound Protocol. I've seen first-hand the difference it can make, particularly for people living with anxiety, and I hope we'll continue to see it become more widely available, especially for young people who could benefit from additional nervous system support.

Peter Levine

Peter Levine's work reminds us that our bodies hold far more wisdom than we sometimes realise. His writing has been hugely influential in helping therapists and somatic practitioners understand that healing isn't simply about talking or understanding our stories intellectually, but also about listening to what the body has been communicating all along.

Bessel van der Kolk

The Body Keeps the Score has become a modern classic for good reason. It helped bring the relationship between trauma, memory and the body into mainstream conversation and continues to influence practitioners across psychology, counselling and body-based therapies.

Music

Anyone who knows me knows how important music is in my life. I love seeing live bands, discovering new artists and losing myself in film soundtracks and cinematic scores. Music has an extraordinary ability to help us feel something that words alone often can't.

It's one of the reasons I spend so much time curating the playlists I use in my sessions. I'm always looking for music that creates enough space for emotion, curiosity and imagination without overwhelming the experience. Every track is chosen with care, and I'm mindful not just of the melody and the emotional arc, but of the lyrics too. Words have a way of finding us when we're in an open, reflective state, so I believe they deserve just as much consideration as the music itself.

Stay curious

Over the years I've learnt that no one book, teacher or practice has all the answers. Breathwork has been a profound part of my own journey, but it's been enriched by counselling, meditation, music, creativity and the wisdom of many different people along the way.

My hope isn't that you'll read everything on this page. It's simply that something here sparks your curiosity. Sometimes one book, one conversation or one piece of music arrives at exactly the right moment—and that's often where the most meaningful change begins.

If you'd like to experience this for yourself, you can begin with my free 15-minute guided practice, join me at Breathe Love, or explore a Session for Two.