Best Occupational Therapy Books of 2026

Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry is a trusted clinical psychiatric resource for health care professionals worldwide. Its twelfth edition has been reorganized to be more useful and easier to navigate, with clinically relevant material at the beginning of the book, clearer headings and summaries, and numerous case studies. The book also presents current treatment methods, including descriptions of modern psychotherapeutic techniques, and includes descriptive tables for all relevant DSM-5 and ICD-10 diagnoses. Overall, it is an excellent resource for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge of psychiatry and psychopharmacology.

This book is a comprehensive guide for clinicians and clients, providing 250 creative and practical art therapy techniques for breaking the ice and making clients feel comfortable. The exercises are designed to increase self-esteem, self-awareness, and communication skills without judgment. The techniques are based on mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and self-compassion, making them useful for clients dealing with anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, relationship issues, and life changes. The author, Susan I. Buchalter, is a board-certified art therapist, licensed professional counselor, and certified group psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience. This book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to incorporate art therapy into their practice.

This book is a valuable resource for parents and caregivers looking to promote emotional stability and bonding in children aged 3 to 9. Play Therapy Activities offers a wide range of fun and engaging activities, including coloring, sketching, writing, and puzzles, aimed at helping children develop emotional awareness and conflict resolution skills. The book is organized by art form, making it easy to find activities that suit each child's interests. With 150 activities to choose from, there's something for everyone. Overall, this book is an excellent tool for parents and caregivers looking to support children's emotional and social development.

Balanced and Barefoot by Angela Hanscom is a must-read for parents who want to help their children develop cognitive abilities and grow up to be healthy, balanced, and resilient adults. The author, a pediatric occupational therapist, emphasizes the importance of outdoor play and unstructured freedom of movement for children’s sensory, motor, and executive function development. She offers practical strategies for parents to incorporate outdoor play into their children's lives, even in urban environments. The book highlights the negative effects of sedentary lifestyles and lack of movement on children's health and cognitive abilities. Overall, Balanced and Barefoot is an insightful and informative book that offers valuable advice for parents seeking to raise healthy and happy children.

Medical Billing & Coding for Beginners 2023-2024 Edition is a comprehensive guide to launching a successful career in the healthcare field. With over 150,000 copies sold, this book reveals the top strategies to become a skilled professional in medical records and health information. The guide covers the essential skills required for medical billing and coding, including the fastest way to translate services, injuries, and diagnoses into alphanumeric codes, how to work as a remote medical coder, and the secrets of perfect billing. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in a lucrative and promising career in healthcare.

This Centennial Edition of Willard & Spackman’s Occupational Therapy, celebrating 100 years of the profession, is a comprehensive and integrated resource that covers the full scope of occupational therapy. It is a must-have for new practitioners and a top text informing the NBCOT certification exam. The 13th edition is now fully updated to reflect current practice, with a stronger global focus and coverage of the latest considerations in the field. The book also includes first-person narratives that offer a unique perspective on the lives of those living with disease. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for students and clinicians looking to develop knowledge and skills in a client-centered, evidence-based, and culturally relevant approach.

Play Therapy Activities is a valuable resource for parents and therapists looking to engage children aged 3-9 in play therapy. The book presents 101 activities that are designed to enhance children's behavior, self-awareness, and impulse control. The author, Melissa LaVigne, provides a comprehensive overview of play therapy and offers tips for parents to get the most out of their experiences with their children. The book is a great tool for educators to incorporate play into the classroom. Overall, Play Therapy Activities is an excellent guide for anyone looking to improve the parent-child connection and strengthen their bond through the power of play.

This extensive guide, titled "Trauma and Dissociation Informed Internal Family Systems," provides in-depth information on how to diagnose and successfully treat people with complex trauma and dissociative disorders using Internal Family Systems (IFS). The book offers strategies to support managers' ability to manage, integrate the powerful treatment modality of IFS, coping skills and affect management for all parts, and basic hypnotic language to enhance the impact of the IFS process. The author provides helpful ways of conceptualizing this therapy, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to treat C-PTSD and dissociative disorders safely and successfully.

The Path to Private Practice is a comprehensive guide for speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists who are considering starting a full or part-time private practice. The author covers essential topics such as finding clients, increasing income and financial stability, creating a balanced work schedule, and reigniting a professional passion. This book offers practical advice for those at any stage of their careers, and provides insights into the growing "Private Practice Movement". By the end of this empowering guide, readers will have a clear roadmap of what it takes to build a private practice that aligns with their personal and professional goals. Overall, this book is an essential resource for speech and occupational therapy providers who aspire to be in private practice.

The Stroke Recovery Workbook is a comprehensive resource designed to aid individuals in their cognitive recovery after a stroke. The 200-page workbook is filled with various activities that are practical and useful for daily life, such as learning about calendars and clocks, matching clothes to the weather, and easy crossword puzzles. The book also includes inspiring quotes to provide support and encouragement. The large print and coloring pages make it accessible for anyone to use. Overall, this workbook is an excellent tool for anyone on their journey to recovery, whether a stroke survivor or a loved one looking to provide support.