How to Support Those in Crisis: 14 Essential Books for Counselors

Shelby Clingan on March 17, 2026

CONTACT Care Line has hand-selected these resources based on the essential materials we use in our own counselor education and crisis-line training. These fourteen titles are considered the gold standard in our field, offering deep insight into the complexities of crisis support and suicide prevention.

Each entry features a complete APA citation alongside a brief summary explaining how it applies to real-world practice. To help you navigate these materials, we have included a Recommended Reading Ladder at the conclusion of the list, which categorizes each book by the practitioner’s experience level.

[Download the full Annotated Bibliography here]