Media
Where has Ryan been featured?
85254 Podcast (click the picture):
Fox10 News Interview with Linda Williams (click the picture):
The God Show with Pat McMahon (click the picture):
Happiness on Demand Podcast with Dr. Joan Neehall (click the picture):
Books Ryan Recommends:
Here are Ryan's favorite books about mental health, self-help, marriage, helping kids get comfortable with therapy so that they can heal, and even some novels!
The Road Less Traveled
by M. Scott Peck
Peck’s seminal work reminds us that life is difficult, and that the real work of living is to face those difficulties head-on. Each problem we solve becomes an opportunity to learn, grow, and change.
The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brené Brown
Brown’s work invites us to drop the armor and embrace the messy, beautiful truth of being human. With warmth and humor, she reminds us that authenticity isn’t about getting it right, it’s about showing up with courage, compassion, and connection.
The Family Crucible
by Carl Whitaker and Augustus Napier
A classic exploration of what happens when a family enters therapy and everyone gets transformed. Whitaker’s bold, intuitive approach, captured beautifully by Napier, shows how healing requires courage, connection, and a willingness to face the fire together.
The Gift of Therapy
by Irvin Yalom
A love letter to the art and humanity of psychotherapy. Yalom shares the wisdom of decades in practice, reminding us that therapy is less about fixing and more about meeting: two humans, sitting together, making meaning of life’s inevitable pain and beauty.
Passionate Marriage
by David Schnarch
Schnarch takes intimacy far beyond technique, showing how real passion comes from self-confrontation and growth. This book reframes marriage as a crucible for differentiation, the process of staying true to yourself while staying deeply connected to another.
When Nietzsche Wept
by Irvin Yalom
Part novel, part philosophy, part therapy session, Yalom imagines an encounter between Nietzsche and the physician Josef Breuer that births modern psychotherapy itself. It’s a story about despair, healing, and the lifelong struggle to find meaning, both in our work and within ourselves.
Layla Goes to Therapy
By Erica Tatum-Sheade
A gentle, beautifully illustrated story that helps children understand what therapy is and why it matters. With warmth and clarity, Erica guides kids - and their grown-ups - through the courage it takes to ask for help and the magic that happens when they do.
King, Warrior, Magician, Lover
by Douglas Gillette and Robert Moore
A modern classic on masculine psychology, this book explores the four archetypes that shape mature manhood. Moore and Gillette show how true strength comes not from domination, but from balance - integrating power with wisdom, courage with compassion, and purpose with love.
Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy
by Albert Ellis
Ellis’s groundbreaking work on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy laid the foundation for much of modern cognitive therapy. He reminds us that while emotions can feel overwhelming, they’re often driven by the beliefs beneath them, and that changing how we think can change how we live.
killing rage: Ending Racism
by bell hooks
hooks writes with fierce clarity about the pain and persistence of racism, and the deep work of love and justice required to end it. This isn’t just theory; it’s a call to consciousness, compassion, and courage in both personal and collective healing.
Love Wins
by Rob Bell
Bell’s provocative and hopeful exploration of faith reframes how we think about heaven, hell, and the nature of divine love. It’s a reminder that grace isn’t earned or withheld - it’s the constant invitation to live, love, and see one another with compassion right here and now.
Desperation
by Stephen King
A brutal, haunting story about fear, faith, and the will to survive. Beneath the horror, King wrestles with questions of good and evil, control and surrender. He reminds us that even in our most desperate moments, meaning and mercy can still break through.