Please click here to schedule an appointment.

 

Resources

I have listed a number of resources that you might like to review. I have personally reviewed each resource and have found it to be beneficial for myself and/or for my clients. As I review other resources I will add to the list.

There are two types of resources within this information: Those that have spiritual information within them and those that are not spiritually based. I have placed the word” spiritual” beside those resources that included spiritual information.

Enjoy the list and I hope you find the resources helpful.


Adoption

God Found Us You by Lisa Bergren (Spiritual)

Mama Fox explains that she dreamed of Little Fox for a long, long time. She saw him everywhere she went; she prayed and prayed and prayed for Little Fox to come. It was difficult for her to see other mothers with their babies, but she "trusted that God knew you, and knew me, and knew when we'd fit perfectly together." Little Fox asks: "How come I couldn't stay with the mother who had me?" Mama Fox says she must have had a very big reason to give up Little Fox; she must have believed it was best for Little Fox. "I think she prayed like crazy that you would be safe, Little Fox. I think she prayed for me as much as I prayed for her." When Little Fox wonders if Mama Fox is his forever mama, Mama Fox assures him she'll be his forever - no matter what. Little Fox is the best gift God ever gave her. Then Little Fox falls asleep, feeling safe and secure, and remembering his mother is the happiest mama in the world.

Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew
by Sherrie Eldridge

With warmth and candor, Sherrie Eldridge reveals the twenty complex emotional issues you must understand to nurture the child you love--that he must grieve his loss now if he is to receive love fully in the future--that she needs honest information about her birth family no matter how painful the details may be--and that although he may choose to search for his birth family, he will always rely on you to be his parents.

Lifebooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child by Beth O'Malley

From Alaska to Australia the word is spreading. Adoptive parents are discovering the enormous value of adoption lifebooks. But then the questions begin. Where do I start? What information should be included? Do I let my child bring it to school?
Beth O’Malley M.Ed. provides the answers to these and more. In her best selling book, LifeBooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child Beth guides you though the process, step-by-step and page by page as if she were right there with you.
Learn about the difference between a scrapbook or baby book and a lifebook. Or explaining tough truths, dealing with secrets and which pages are essential.

20 Things Adoptive Parents Need to Succeed by Sherrie Eldridge

Speaking from her own experience as an adoptee and an expert in the field of adoption, Eldridge shares proven strategies and the moving narratives of nearly one hundred adoptive families, helping parents gain a deeper understanding of what is normal, both for their children and themselves. By first strengthening yourself as a parent, you’ll be able to truly listen to your child, and to connect with him on every level, by opening the channels of communication and keeping them open forever. Then you and your child can grow closer through the practical exercises at the end of every chapter.


 Behaviour Issues

The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross Greene

What′s an explosive child? A child who responds to routine problems with extreme frustration-crying, screaming, swearing, kicking, hitting, biting, spitting, destroying property, and worse. A child whose frequent, severe outbursts leave his or her parents feeling frustrated, scared, worried, and desperate for help. Most of these parents have tried everything-reasoning, explaining, punishing, sticker charts, therapy, medication-but to no avail. They can′t figure out why their child acts the way he or she does; they wonder why the strategies that work for other kids don′t work for theirs; and they don′t know what to do instead.

Sophie and Sam: When to Say Yes and When to Say No by Tori Cloud (Spiritual)

Sharing - yes. Whining - no. Telling the truth and cleaning up - yes. Arguing and not following the rules - no.
Seems simple enough, but as a kid it may be unclear when they know the right thing to do is not necessarily the most comfortable to express. Tied to the million-plus selling book, Boundaries
, from Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, Tori Cloud helps children learn at an early age the value of setting and keeping boundaries to be safe and happy.
Boundary lessons include:
Sharing * Truthfulness * Bullies * Cleaning Up * 
Strangers *
Respect * Arguing * Obedience * Thankfulness


Children with Anxiety

A Terrible Thing Happened by Holmes

Sherman Smith saw the most terrible thing happen. At first he tried to forget about it, but soon something inside him started to bother him. He felt nervous for no reason. Sometimes his stomach hurt. He had bad dreams. And he started to feel angry and do mean things, which got him in trouble. Then he met Ms. Maple, who helped him talk about the terrible thing that he had tried to forget. Now Sherman is feeling much better. This gently told and tenderly illustrated story is for children who have witnessed any kind of violent or traumatic episode, including physical abuse, school or gang violence, accidents, homicide, suicide, and natural disasters such as floods or fire. An afterword by Sash a J. Mudlaff written for parents and other caregivers offers extensive suggestions for helping traumatized children, including a list of other sources that focus on specific events.


Sophie and the Sea Monster by Don Gillmor

There's a sea monster under Sophie's bed. He's small and blue, and is also a terrible singer. Worst of all, it turns out that he's afraid to come out! Sophie decides to coax the shy monster out into the world, and when they share many adventures together, they both forget to be afraid. Michael Martchenko's bright, colourful and energetic artwork is the perfect complement to award-winning author Don Gillmor's tale. This wonderfully crafted and whimsical story touches on real childhood issues, and features a spunky heroine sure to become a favourite friend for young readers.

A Niflenoo called Nevermind by Margot Sunderland

A Nifflenoo Called Nevermind is a a story for children who bottle up their feelings:

Nevermind always carries on whatever happens! Each time something horrible happens to him he just tucks his feelings away and carries on with life. Find out what happens to Nevermind and how he begins to understand that his feelings do matter, how he learns to express them and stand up for himself.

Hole in One a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series by Gayle Grass

Hole in One: A Tale from the Iris the Dragon Series is the third book in the Iris the Dragon series. The book addresses the topic of anxiety disorder in children specifically anxiety about going to school and performance. This book provides children with anxiety an opportunity to identify with their thoughts, feelings and actions through the young character in the book. The book also helps normalize what a child with anxiety might be going through to let them know there is hope and that getting the help they need is important. Hole in One features a young boy called Teeman. In the book, Teeman has a dream to be an amazing golfer. His anxiety about school and performing interfere with his dream and his life seems to be tumbling out of control until he meets Iris the Dragon. Equipped with her knowledge of children's mental health issues, Iris helps Teeman learn to address his anxiety which enables him to interact with the world in stead of shying away from it in the end.


Children with Separation Anxiety

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

Chester Raccoon doesn't want to go to school--he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he'll love school--with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that's been in the family for years--the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son's hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm--smack dab in the middle: "Chester felt his mother's kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart." Whenever he feels lonely at school, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek to feel the warmth of his mother's kiss. Chester is so pleased with his Kissing Hand that he--in a genuinely touching moment--gives his mom a Kissing Hand, too, to comfort her when he is away.


Children Dealing with Loss / Grief

It's Okay to Cry: A Parent's Guide to Helping Children Through the Losses of Life by Norman Wright

Look through the eyes of a child again. When something unexpected, disappointing, or traumatic occurs, children feel a very real sense of loss. They may respond with fear or with anger. Most likely they are confused. They have questions they want answered. They need help from their parents or others who care to understand and process their grief.
It’s Okay to Cry offers practical help for parents. It explains the symptoms of loss and unresolved grief so that parents can recognize them and walk alongside their children on the path to recovery.
Well-known and respected author H. Norman Wright speaks to parents with sympathy and reassurance. He recognizes that most parents don’t know how to teach their children to process loss, because often they weren’t taught themselves. His sage advice will give you and your child the comfort and hope you seek.



When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown

Unlike many books on death for little ones, this one doesn't tell a story. Instead, it addresses children's fears and curiosity head-on, and in a largely secular fashion, by answering some very basic questions: "Why does someone die?" "What does dead mean?" "What comes after death?" Other questions deal with emotions, and there's a section about death customs (the weakest part of the book). The forthright approach makes the subject seem less mysterious and provides kids with plenty to think about and discuss with their parents. It's the brightly colored artwork, however, that will really enable children to relax with the concept. The pictures are filled with homey clutter and familiar detail, and the activities of the appealingly quirky characters (who resemble dinosaurs in only the broadest way) add a strong, comforting sense of what can only be called normalcy.

The Frog Who Longed for the Moon To Smile by Margot Sunderland

A story for children who yearn for someone they love. Frog is very much in love with the moon because she once smiled at him. So now he spends all his time dreaming about her. He waits and waits for her to smile at him again. One day a wise and friendly crow helps frog to see how he is wasting his life away. All the time he has been facing the place of very little, he's had his back to the place of plenty.




Divorce

For the sake of the children - For the Sake of the Children is a free six hour program divided into two sessions of three hours each. It is designed to provide the type of information parents need:

  • To understand what they are going through, both legally and emotionally;
  • To help them cope with and adjust to separation so that they can help their children adjust.

Infertility

When The Cradle is Empty by John Van Regenmorter (Spiritual)

Having a child is a cherished dream for most of us. But what happens when nothing happens--or a pregnancy ends in tragedy? Authors John and Sylvia Van Regenmorter share their own experience in When the Cradle Is Empty: Answering Tough Questions about Infertility. With wisdom, compassion, and sound biblical advice, this comprehensive guide helps couples explore their options, get the medical help they need, deal with pressures from family and friends, and protect their marriage. 

It’s OK to Cry by Malcolm & Nick Cameron (Spiritual)

In It's OK to Cry, Malcolm & Nick Cameron share their story of infertility, miscarriage, and grief over remaining childless. If you've had to reconcile yourself to the idea of childlessness, the single life, career loss, or debilitating illness, It's OK to Cry can help you rely on God and draw you into a deeper devotion to God.


Parenting

Boundaries with Kids by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend (Spiritual)

Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend take you through the ins and outs of establishing family boundaries and cultivating sound character in your children. The clear, helpful exercises and applications in the Boundaries with Kids Workbook will help you make the leap from understanding to ? identifying the boundary issues underlying child behavior problems ? setting boundaries and establishing consequences with your kids ? getting out of the “nagging” trap ? relinquishing control—and helping your child develop self-control instead ? applying the ten laws of boundaries to parenting ? taking six practical steps for implementing boundaries with your kids. Step by step, you will take strides toward bringing control to an out-of-control family life, setting limits while still being a loving parent—and above all, instilling in your children the godly character that is the foundation for healthy, productive adult living.

Boundaries with Teens by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend (Spiritual)

Teenagers! You love them to pieces ... but sometimes you feel like the pieces are falling apart Relax! Your sanity will survive these rocky teenage years, and so will your teens---provided you set healthy boundaries that work to their benefit and yours. Boundaries with Teens shows you how. From bestselling author and counselor Dr. John Townsend, here is the expert insight and guidance you need to help your teens take responsibility for their actions, attitudes, and emotions and gain a deeper appreciation and respect both for you and for themselves. With wisdom and empathy, Dr. Townsend, a father of two teens himself, applies biblically based principles for the challenging task of guiding your children through the teen years. He shows you how to: * deal with disrespectful attitudes and impossible behavior in your teen * set healthy limits and realistic consequences * be loving and caring while establishing rules * determine specific strategies to deal with problems both big and small Discover how your teenager thinks. Learn how to apply biblical principles to specific problems. Boundaries with Teens can help you establish wise and loving limits that make a positive difference in your adolescent, in the rest of your family, and in you.


How To Behave So Your Children Will Too by Sal Severe

In this eye-opening resource, Dr. Sal Severe taps his twenty-five years of experience as a school psychologist and parenting workshop leader to show that a child's behavior is often a reflection of the parent's behavior, and by making changes themselves, parents can achieve dramatic results in their children. Instead of focusing on what children do wrong, Dr. Severe teaches parents to emphasize the positive, to be consistent, and to be more patient. He shows parents how to teach their children to behave, listen, and be more cooperative, and how moms and dads can manage their own anger and prevent arguments and power struggles. Packed with concrete strategies for dealing with homework hassles, ending tantrums, and other common problems, Dr. Severe's empathetic, common-sense book will be welcome everywhere.

How to Behave So Your Preschooler Will Too by Sal Severe

Dr. Sal Severe established himself as a leading childcare and parenting expert with his phenomenally successful How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too! Now he focuses on raising children between the ages of three and six. Based on Dr. Severe’s philosophy that children’s behavior often reflects that of their parents, this book teaches readers how to better handle a host of issues, from fussing at bedtime and temper tantrums to toilet training and sibling rivalry. Instead of focusing on what children do wrong, Severe teaches parents what they can do right by emphasizing the positive, being consistent, and being more patient. Filled with checklists, an extensive resource guide to books that parents can read with their preschoolers, and plenty of inspiration, this goldmine of helpful advice is certain to become a bible for stressed-out parents everywhere.



Personal Growth and Development for Adults

The Law of Happiness by Dr. Henry Cloud (Spiritual)

Drawing from the latest scientific and psychological research on the quest for happiness, The Law of Happiness reveals that the spiritual truths of the Bible hold the secrets to the happiness we desire. As Dr. Cloud unpacks these universal, eternal principles, he reveals that true happiness is not about circumstances, physical health, financial success, or even about the people in our lives. In other words, it’s not about the factors that are frequently beyond our control. Rather, happiness is found in choosing to become the kind of people God created us to be.
With chapter titles like “Happy People Connect,” “Happy People Are Envy-Free,” “Happy People Have a Calling,” and “Happy People Forgive,” Cloud shows just how happiness is achieved as he sets readers on a pathway of spiritual transformation that connects them with the God of the universe. With these new tools, readers will discover that their relationships, their careers, and their inner selves are infused with the joy they’ve been seeking.

Spiritual Rhythm by Mark Buchanan (Spiritual)

In Spiritual Rhythm, Mark Buchanan replaces our spirituality of busyness with a spirituality of abiding. Sometimes we are busy, sometimes still, sometimes pushing with all we've got, sometimes waiting. This model of the spiritual life measures and produces growth by asking: Are we living in rhythm with the season we are in? With the lyrical writing for which he is known, Mark invites us to respond to every season of the heart, whether we are flourishing and fruitful, stark and dismal, or cool and windy. In comparing spiritual rhythms to the seasons of the year, he shows us what to expect from each season and how embracing the seasons causes our spiritual lives to prosper. As he draws on the powerful words of Scripture, Mark explores what activities are suitable or necessary in each season---and what activities are useless or even harmful in that season. Throughout the book, Mark weaves together stories of young and old, men and women, families, couples, and individuals who are in or have been through a particular season of the heart.


Sleep / Sleep Problems

Sleep Sense Program by Dana Obleman

Sleep Sense Program
Sleep Sense

Is your baby struggling to fall asleep and stay asleep at nap time or bedtime? Are you tired of taking long drives at night just to get your infant to sleep? Are you going out of your mind listening to your baby cry at bedtime? If any of these illustrations sound like you, it is time to try something else. Sleep Sense is an amazing, easy to follow program that teaches you to teach your child good sleeping habits. You can even get a free customized sleep report by clicking the link on the left.

 

Have a recommendation? Let us know.