Congratulations on taking the next step in your journey supporting people to thrive! Whether you’ve already signed up for our coach training course or are still considering it, we want to help you feel prepared and confident as you begin.
This course is designed to equip you with a deep understanding of executive function, neurodiversity, coaching techniques, and behaviour change strategies—all essential tools to help individuals thrive. To set you up for success, we’ve curated a recommended reading list that will introduce key concepts and give you a head start on your learning.
**PLEASE NOTE: We understand that reading isn’t for everyone – these readings are entirely optional! If you’re still keen to dive into the material but prefer to listen, every resource has an audiobook option you can opt for.
Why This Reading List Matters
Every book on this list has been carefully chosen to support key themes of the course. These books will introduce you to how the brain works, the power of coaching, the importance of emotional regulation, and strategies for creating sustainable change—all of which will underpin your work as a coach.
Think of this as your pre-course toolkit—a way to build your knowledge and confidence before diving into our live sessions.
Some of the links included below are Amazon affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase a book using one of these links, we may earn a small commission. This does not change the price you pay but helps us continue to provide valuable, low-cost resources to support you and the wider Connections in Mind community.
Understanding the Brain & How We Learn
To coach effectively, we need to understand how the brain processes information, regulates emotions, and builds habits. These books provide a foundation in neuroscience and cognitive psychology:
- “Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain” – Lisa Feldman Barrett: A fascinating exploration of how the brain constructs reality and emotions.
- “The Whole-Brain Child” – Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson: Explains how children’s brains develop and how we can coach them effectively.
- “Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind“ – Nancy Kline: The art of deep listening to facilitate meaningful change.
- “Smart but Scattered” – Peg Dawson & Richard Guare: A practical guide to executive function skills, crucial for understanding how people plan, focus, and follow through.
- “How We Learn” – Stanislas Dehaene: The science of learning—how the brain absorbs information, retains it, and applies it.
- “The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” – Bruce D. Perry & Maia Szalavitz: A powerful look at trauma and brain development, essential for understanding emotional resilience.
- “The Power of the Adolescent Brain” – Thomas Armstrong: Insight into teenage brain development, helping us support young people more effectively.
Coaching Skills & Approaches
Coaching is about more than giving advice—it’s about empowering people to develop their own solutions. These books will help you refine your approach:
- “The Coaching Habit“ – Michael Bungay Stanier: Simple yet powerful strategies to make coaching a habit.
- “Co-Active Coaching“ – Henry Kimsey-House et al.: A foundational text on coaching frameworks.
- “Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind“ – Nancy Kline: The art of deep listening to facilitate meaningful change.
- “Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change“ – William R. Miller & Stephen Rollnick: A research-backed approach to coaching motivation.
- “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success“ – Carol S. Dweck: Essential reading on the impact of a growth mindset in personal and professional development.
Neurodiversity & Inclusion
Our coaching approach is neuroffirmative and requires coaches to truly celebrate neurodiversity and not try to fix it. These books explore how neurodivergent minds work and how to create truly accessible support:
- “Neurotribes“ – Steve Silberman: A deep dive into the history of autism and the neurodiversity movement.
- “The Canary Code“ – Ludmila N. Praslova: How systems fail neurodivergent people—and how we can build better ones.
- “Un-typical“ – Pete Wharmby: A call to rethink how we accommodate autistic individuals in daily life and work.
Self-Regulation & Emotional Intelligence
Executive function coaching often involves helping people manage emotions, regulate stress, and build resilience. These books provide essential insights:
- “Permission to Feel“ – Marc Brackett: How emotional intelligence can transform our lives.
- “Atlas of the Heart“ – Brené Brown: A powerful look at the language of emotions.
- “The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy“ – Deb Dana: Understanding how the nervous system affects emotional regulation.
- “Emotional Agility“ – Susan David: The importance of being flexible with our thoughts and emotions.
- “The Body Keeps the Score“ – Bessel van der Kolk: A must-read on trauma and how it shapes our bodies and behaviours.
Neurodiversity in Education
For those coaching in education settings, executive function is key to learning and success:
- “Executive Functions in the Classroom” – Christopher Kaufman: Practical strategies for supporting students’ cognitive skills.
- “Developing Executive Functions in the Early Years“ – Rosalyn Muir : How to nurture executive function skills from a young age.
- “Connection Over Compliance“ – Lori L. Desautels: How relationships and connection support emotional development.
Neurodiversity & The Workplace
For those coaching or managing neurodivergent individuals in professional settings, these books offer insights into workplace inclusion:
- “The Neurodiversity Edge“ – Maureen Dunne: How neurodiverse teams drive innovation and performance in business.
- “Neurodiversity at Work“ – Theo Smith & Amanda Kirby: Practical strategies for building an inclusive workplace.
- “Divergent Mind“ – Jenara Nerenberg: A deep dive into the experience of neurodivergent women in professional environments.
Behaviour Change & Habit Formation
The goal of coaching is often lasting change—these books explore how people build new habits and break old ones:
- “Atomic Habits“ – James Clear: The science of small, consistent changes.
- “The Power of Habit“ – Charles Duhigg: Why habits form and how we can reshape them.
- “Rethinking Positive Thinking“ – Gabriele Oettingen: The research behind mental contrasting and WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan).
How to Make the Most of This List
- Pick One or Two to Start – You don’t need to read them all before the course! Choose the ones most relevant to your role.
- Take Notes & Reflect – How does what you’re reading connect to your experience?
- Engage with Others – Join discussions with fellow trainees and share insights.
- Stay Open to Learning – Coaching is about growth—for you as well as those you support.
Looking Forward to Learning Together
We can’t wait to welcome you into this journey. This reading list is just the beginning—throughout the course, we’ll be diving deeper into these ideas and giving you the tools to apply them in real-world coaching.
If you have any questions or want to share thoughts on what you’re reading, we’d love to hear from you!
See you soon!